As of: March 7, 2024, 2:10 p.m
By: Katarina Amtmann
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A fire salamander in the Nuremberg Zoo (archive image).
© Daniel Karmann/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++
The skin fungus Psal spreads and is fatal for the fire salamander.
A campaign by nature conservation associations is intended to counteract this.
Munich - The fire salamander, with its distinctive black and yellow pattern, is easy to identify even for laypeople.
Several Bavarian nature conservation associations are therefore calling for fire salamanders observed in the forest to be reported via a website from now on.
Fire salamander in Bavaria: Infection with skin fungus Psal is fatal for the animals
They hope to obtain information about the distribution of the amphibian, which can be up to 20 centimeters long, in Bavaria and the spread of the deadly skin fungus Bsal.
Information about the exact location and possible skin changes is particularly valuable, as the LBV, the Federal Nature Conservation Association and the State Association for Amphibian and Reptile Protection announced on Thursday, March 7th.
Dead animals should also be reported.
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The skin fungus Bsal (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans) - also known as salamander eater fungus or salamander plague - has already been detected in Bavaria in the Steigerwald and in parts of the Unterallgäu and Augsburg districts.
Infection with this fungus is fatal to fire salamanders.
In Bavaria, these amphibians are already classified as endangered.
For three years, conservation groups have been working to protect and restore the fire salamander's shrinking habitats.
The reports on www.feuersalamander-bayern.de are now intended to help initiate protective measures at the sites, explained Horst Schwemmer from the Federal Nature Conservation Association.
Fire salamanders should be reported - findings about deadly skin fungus are hoped for
According to LBV, the best viewing opportunities for fire salamanders are at dusk, during or after rainfall and at temperatures of at least three to six degrees.
The skin fungus Bsal spreads slowly, but forest animals or people can spread the spores.
To prevent this, the LBV advises not to touch fire salamanders, to always stay on the paths in Bsal hotspots and to disinfect shoes with 70 percent alcohol.
(came/dpa)
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