For two years, they have been hoping it would succeed: 'It's huge that they have now started breeding'
A reintroduction project is now succeeding, and the little frog that croaks like church bells is truly making its way back into nature on the island of Als.
Here you see one of the small bell frogs that have been born on Als. It is the first time in about 80 years that the bell frog has bred in the area. (Photo: © Lonnie Jessen, DR)
By Henriette Kampp Sørensen ([email protected]) 2 minutes ago
If you are an amphibian enthusiast or just passionate about nature and biodiversity, there is good news.
It has now succeeded in getting the rare bell frog to reproduce at Egetofte in Sønderskoven and at Arnkilsøre on Als.
And that is quite a sensation, according to Lonnie Jessen, who is a biologist with the Danish Nature Agency in Southern Jutland.
"I was absolutely thrilled when it happened. Of course, it was the plan from the start of the project, but you never know if it will succeed. Many factors come into play, and we don't know how many survive from year to year."
The little frog can be recognized by its distinctive croaking, which sounds like church bells, and by its blue-black underside with orange, red, or yellow spots. This is stated on the Nature Agency's website. (Photo: © Lonnie Jessen, DR)
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Great significance for the species
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Two years ago (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/tilbage-efter-80-aar-klokkefroeer-hopper-paa-als), the Danish Nature Agency in Southern Jutland released the first 900 bell frogs in the selected areas.
The rare bell frogs have high demands on their surroundings. Among other things, they require sunlit ponds and grasslands that have been grazed by animals such as cows or horses for many years.
Last year, the Agency did it again, and now some of the 1,800 frogs have reproduced.
"Bell frogs are naturally found in very few places in Denmark, so it's huge that they have now started breeding," says Lonnie Jessen.
"This means the bell frog now has another population that can hopefully sustain itself. That is the goal of our project," she explains.
In a week or two, 900 bell frogs will be released for the last time as part of the three-year reintroduction project. In the autumn, even more ponds will be dug in the area to ensure food for the frogs and places where they can breed.
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