Mallorcan midwife toad  (Alytes muletensis)

This species was identified from fossils in the 1970s and was believed to have become extinct 2000 years ago, incredibly however, surviving populations were discovered in 1980 (5). Since then this toad has decreased markedly in abundance and range. The decline in the Mallorcan midwife toad was the result of the introduction to the island of competitors and predators such as the viperine snake (Natrix maura), which predates on both adult toads and tadpoles, and the green frog (Rana perezi) (4) that competes for food (2). Increased demands for water due to the large number of tourists visiting the island places pressure on mountain water resources, and a number of schemes have proposed to dam the rivers in which this toad lives. A further threat arises from the small size of the remaining population, which places the species at risk of extinction from chance catastrophic events (2).

A conservation project is underway, with cooperation between the Mallorcan Consellaria de Medi Ambient, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology at Kent University and the Barcelona Zoo (6) (3). The species breeds well in captivity and reintroductions have been taking place since 1988, with several breeding populations already successfully established as a result (4). Annual surveys are taking place and a reserve has been proposed to help protect the species (4). The number of suitable sites for reintroduction is limited, so work is currently focusing on the creation of new pools (4). With such concerted conservation efforts, the future of this fascinating species may well be secured, at least for the present.