Reintroduction programme for the European tree frog in Wallonia
The team at the Aquarium-Muséum Universitaire de Liège is supporting Natagora's Raînne centre in its programme to reintroduce the European tree frog to Wallonia.
This small apple-green amphibian, once found in most of Wallonia, disappeared from the south of the country at the end of the 1980s.
The standardisation of rural landscapes led to the destruction of the European tree frog's natural habitats, in particular agricultural ponds, depriving them of their breeding and living areas, which in turn contributed to their disappearance.
Large areas of varied vegetation, dense bushes, trees and an extensive network of shallow pools are natural habitats that the European tree frog needs to ensure its survival. Recent developments in various nature reserves have helped to restore the little homes of our green friends.
In collaboration with other players, le pôle Raînne de Natagora is launching an ambitious programme to reintroduce the European tree frog to four sites in Wallonia. By 2022, several thousand young European tree frogs have already been released, but the association is keen to continue its efforts and has no intention of stopping there.
Natagora's objective:
- Raise and release 7,000 young European tree frogs in 2 years.
- Achieve the first natural reproductions in 2024 and 2025.
- Establish several viable populations in Wallonia before the end of the decade.
In mid-April, with the help of the Natuurpunt association, tree frog clutches will be collected from several thriving populations in the provinces of Limburg and Antwerp. These clutches will be reared by various partners, including the Aquarium-Muséum.
In 2024, we will be welcoming several hundred small eggs, which will be installed in aquariums adapted to their needs. Our mission? To care for these little amphibians by feeding them, changing the water and monitoring their development.
The rearing process takes place in two phases, starting with the aquatic phase in which we lay the eggs in aquariums. Once the hatching period is over, the tadpoles begin to develop, gradually giving way to the second phase: the terrestrial phase in an aqua-terrarium/terrarium.
The terrestrial phase in the aqua-terrarium begins when our little tadpoles start to emerge from the water to begin a new life on land. Although their new home only contains a few centimetres of water, we need to be particularly vigilant during this transition period between the aquatic and terrestrial phases, as the tadpoles could drown. This is what we call the critical stage. The metamorphosis will continue in a terrarium until the tree frogs reach the adult stage, so that we can then release them, with the help of Natagora, in the predefined locations.
The aim is to ensure that the tadpoles have a much higher survival rate than if they were released directly into the wild. What's more, our visitors will have the chance to witness the different stages in their development. Displays will be set up at the very heart of our aquarium to raise public awareness of this cause, which is so important to our team. What's more, the first operations have been successful, as the male tree frogs were heard singing several times in 2023, showing us that the reintroduction is working!
Much more than just a 'simple' reintroduction project, this one also fosters the hope that, thanks to this species evolving in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, conservation efforts and initiatives to protect these habitats will be strengthened. This will benefit not only the European tree frog, but also a host of plants and animals that depend on it.
To support this reintroduction programme, the Aquarium-Muséum has decided to put on the "Tattoos & Tadpoles" Flashnight.
During this night, several artists will be on hand at the Aquarium to create exclusive flash tattoos on the theme of amphibians and aquatic fauna. Each tattoo will contribute to the funding of the European Tree Frog reintroduction programme in Wallonia and to our conservation fund.
