Durrell's Agile Frog Conservation Efforts Earn Prestigious Award
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has been recognised for its long-running work to protect Jersey's only native frog species after receiving the Best Conservation Project Award at the Conservation Awards.
The trust has been leading the Agile Frog Recovery Programme since 2001, responding to a dramatic decline in the island's agile frog population. Over the past two decades, the initiative has successfully reintroduced thousands of young frogs into the wild, helping to secure the future of the endangered species.
Ciaran Westgate, Durrell's Curator of Herpetology, praised the dedication of the team behind the project and said the recognition was a rewarding milestone.
"We're incredibly proud to receive this award," he said. "It's wonderful to see the hard work of everyone involved recognised. The prize money will also help us continue vital research and strengthen our conservation efforts."
Westgate explained that years of focused work with the small remaining population have significantly improved scientists' understanding of the agile frog's biology and behaviour.
"We've learned a huge amount about the species over the years, and we're still discovering more," he said. "This year alone, we have three research projects underway that will help us better understand how to protect the species in the future."
Once found across Jersey, the agile frog is now confined to just two small areas in the island's west. Habitat loss and historical events, including a pesticide spill, contributed to the species' decline.
The recovery programme supports frogs through every stage of their life cycle, from tadpoles to adulthood, with the ultimate aim of restoring healthy, genetically diverse populations across Jersey.
Westgate said the team had recently completed a new 10-year Species Action Plan, providing a clear roadmap for future conservation work. He added that the long-term ambition remains to secure the agile frog's future while strengthening the ecosystems it depends on.
