Succesvolle vestiging rugstreeppad in nieuw aangelegd compensatiegebied Rotterdamse haven

Natterjack Toad colonizes compensation area in the port of Rotterdam The protected species Bufo calamita, the Natterjack Toad, is among the flora and fauna of the vast industrial complex of the Port of Rotterdam Authority. Therefore, before the area where the species occurred could be further developed, alternative habitat had to be made available. The natterjack population was estimated to comprise no more than 400 adults. Toads were transferred to this compensation area on several occasions in 2007. The aim was the development of a population of about the same size as the original one, that could maintain its numbers in the new situation. A proactive approach was chosen by asking for a generic exemption from the flora and flora act, thereby avoiding delay for individual building projects. Yearly monitoring has shown that the habitat in the compensation area is gradually being adopted by the natterjacks, and that reproduction had taken place in five consecutive years by 2012. The number of pools used by the toads is also growing. As long as maintenance of these reproduction waters is carried out, the Natterjack Toad should be able to build up a stable and sustainable population and thus have a future in the compensation area.