Six thousand European green toad tadpoles, an endangered species, have been released on Sprogø, the island in the middle of the Great Belt (Storebælt). The release aims to expand the toad’s habitat across the entire island.

The tadpoles originated from eggs collected from the existing European green toad population on Sprogø. These eggs were hatched at the Copenhagen Zoo before being released onto the man-made portion of the island.

Rosa Nielsen, a zookeeper at Copenhagen Zoo, stated that this effort is intended to assist the European green toad in establishing itself in new areas, relying on nature to ensure its survival.

Sprogø, serving as the central point of the Great Belt Link, sees approximately 30,000 vehicles passing through it daily. Despite its role as a traffic hub, the island supports a thriving natural environment. The island is divided into an original section and a man-made extension created during the construction of the Great Belt Link.

According to Sund & Bælt, the island is home to over 30 bird species and the European green toad, indicating healthy conditions for flora and fauna.

Sund & Bælt attributes the flourishing ecosystem to restricted human access and focused nature management practices.

Ditte Hjort, project manager at Sund & Bælt, emphasized the importance of the collaboration with the Zoo in bolstering the endangered species’ population.

The collaboration between Sund & Bælt and Copenhagen Zoo extends to the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel construction on Lolland, where efforts are underway to reinforce amphibian populations. As part of this project, over 600 hectares of new natural habitat are being developed, encompassing 40 ponds, a new lake, wetlands, and open-air areas.