Several public awareness material were specifically created for this project: seven educational videos and several informative leaflets.

Two of the videos are animated. The first of the animated videos shows were Bsal originates from, outlines its effect on European urodelans and where you can report dead- and moribund animals. The second animation outlines best practices for captive populations: bio security measures, quarantining of newly acquired specimens and a call to report dead- and moribund animals. The third video stresses the importance of adherence to a field hygiene protocol in order to reduce the risk of human-mediated pathogen dispersal. Both animated clips have subtitles in 16 European languages in order to reach a large (European) audience. The clips can be found on the Youtube Channel of Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation Netherlands.

Additional educational videos were made to provide more insights in the ‘etiology and epidemiology of Bsal’, the ‘clinical signs’ Bsal produces in different amphibian species, the ‘diagnostic methods’ and the ‘treatment options’ when coming into contact with an amphibian infected with Bsal.

The other public awareness materials are three easy-to-use leaflets on ‘recognition of Bsal in urodelans’ (including FAQ’s for fieldwork and captive collections), ‘disinfection protocols for fieldwork’ and ‘heavy machinery’.

 

Legislation – Guidelines – Recommendations –  Conventions

Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats: Recommendation n° 176(2015) on the prevention and control of Bsal. Recommendation n° 197 (2017) on biosafety measures for the prevention of the spread of amphibian and reptile species diseases

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The Habitats Directive

Guidelines on the importation of salamanders and newts into the UK

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/320 of 28 February 2018 on certain animal health protection measures for intra-Union trade in salamanders and the introduction into the Union of such animals in relation to the fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans.

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE): Notifiable terrestrial and aquatic animal diseasesAquatic Animal Health Code (Bsal)

International Union for Conservation of Nature: IUCN translocation guidelines