Result of translocation program for the Siberian salamander and the factors to consider before translocation

Abstract

 As a conservation measure associated with development projects in Kushiro Marsh, egg sacs and adults of Siberian salamander (Salamandrella keyserlingii) were translocated to artificial ponds in two periods (1986-1990 and 1996-1998). Following the first translocation, Kushiro City Board of Education commenced a continuous monitoring survey for 29 years from 1991 to 2019. The survey revealed that the translocated individuals spawned annually in the artificial breeding ponds by 2016; however, the number of egg sacs continuously decreased, after 2017, no further spawning was observed. Therefore, we consider that the translocated individuals are now either extinct or on the verge of extinction, indicating that the translocation project has failed. In this report, we discuss the factors that caused the failure of translocation projects and summarize factors to consider while translocating Siberian salamander.