Celtic Reptile & Amphibian

Celtic Rewilding Ltd, also known as Celtic Reptile & Amphibian, is a conservation company, established in 2020, by Harvey Tweats and Tom Whitehurst, with the aim of reintroducing extinct reptiles and amphibians back to rewilding projects within the UK. It is based in Leek, Staffordshire.[1][2]

Celtic Reptile & Amphibian breeding facility in 2021.

The company was conceptualised after founder Harvey Tweats visited the River Otter beaver trial, where Eurasian Beavers were reintroduced, creating habitats that would have supported extinct amphibian species, as they are ecosystem engineers. However, the beaver was hunted to extinction in the 16th century,[3] leading amphibian species to also slip into extirpation, only for beavers to be released hundreds of years later, after the extinction of many amphibian species. This means the only way these species could return is through direct reintroduction. Tweats was also inspired by reintroduction expert Derek Gow.[4] Later, Tom Whitehurst joined, handling the technical and accounting aspects of Celtic Reptile & Amphibian.[2]

Founders Tweats and Whitehurst in 2021.
A TTE frog-house at Celtic Reptile & Amphibian. This structure is used to house and breed frogs.

In 2020, a site was developed to help upscale the breeding effort with financial help from a range of environmentalists, including Ben Goldsmith and Sir Charles Burrell. The breeding facility is the largest of its type, dedicated only to European species in an open-air environment. Eventually it will house more reptiles than Chester Zoo.[5][6]

Thus far, success has been achieved with the moor frog, as it has been successfully bred in captivity by the company, sparking talk of reintroduction,[7][8] as it was likely extirpated by deforestation (in western Europe and the UK).[9]

The European pond turtle has also been put forward as a reintroduction candidate, as the climate is warming, making habitat more suitable. Celtic Reptile & Amphibian have worked with the University of Cambridge to develop a project feasibility study for the restoration of this species. They propose a trial release into a fenced area to investigate the impact (positive or negative) on native species and the incubation success of the species, somewhere in the East Anglian Broads, Brecks or Fens.[10] They have garnered support from Professor William J. Sutherland. The organisation has the largest captive group of the species.[11]

In response to worries about the potential transfer of diseases (like chytrid which causes chytridiomycosis) from captive animals to the wild, a biosecurity protocol was enacted. It included ecologically certified newt fences, sanitising stations and foot-dips. All breeding stock is tested with PCR testing.[12]

Proposed species for reintroduction
A blue male moor frog in 2021, as part of the successful captive breeding project.

Celtic Reptile & Amphibian undertake research with many partners. This is focussed on feasibility of species reintroduction and examining evidence for species native status.[13]

Currently, 5 species of herptile are classed as extirpated in the UK, and suitable for reintroduction;

  • Agile frog (Rana dalmatina) - extinct reliably in the 9th century,[14] as indicated by subfossil remains. It has already been reintroduced to Jersey, by Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.[15][16]
  • European tree frog (Hyla arborea) - while a potential native colony survived until 1987,[17] reliable historical records suggest that this species was found in Britain by at least the 16th century, for example Sir Thomas Browne wrote in 1646; "...the little frog of an excellent Parrat green, that usually sits on [t]rees and [b]ushes, and is therefore called Ranunculus viridis, or arboreus...",[18] thus it is listed as an extinct-native.[19][20]
  • European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) - surviving until the Neolithic, this chelonian qualifies as a native British species as evidenced by fossils and sedaDNA analysis.[21] However, it most likely went extinct due to climatic deteroration.[22][23] Celtic Reptile & Amphibian hope that a warming climate will open up opportunities for the restoration of this species and a crowdfunding campaign has been initiated.[24][11][10]
  • Pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae) - this is the only species in which it has already been reintroduced to Britain,[25] both intentionally and accidentally.[14][26]
  • Moor frog (Rana arvalis) - several subfossil specimens represent this species, showing it was native to East Anglia at least in the 9th century. A historical reference by Bartholomeus Anglicus talks of "Rana palustres" pushing the extinction date to the 13th century.[18] Furthermore, research indicates that fenland drainage and deforestation were the most likely factors in the species' demise.[9]
A swimming European pond turtle, a species the organisation wants to reintroduce.

Rewilding efforts

The company also helps to advise estates, NGOs and farmers on how they can rewild their landholdings. They define rewilding as “the large scale restoration of ecosystems through the provision of protecting land from human uses, and re-introducing lost natural processes with the ultimate aim of letting nature take care of itself. This may include, but not limited to, the reintroduction of extinct species”.[27] Tweats has stated that the company has an advisory acreage of 12,000.

References
  1. The ambitious teenagers hoping to rewild reptiles to the UK | 5 News, retrieved 2021-10-27
  2. "'Who doesn't love a turtle?' The teenage boys on a mission – to rewild Britain with reptiles". The Guardian. 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  3. Raye, Lee (July 2014). "The early extinction date of the beaver (Castor fiber) in Britain". Historical Biology. 27 (8): 1029–1041. doi:10.1080/08912963.2014.927871. S2CID 84214706 – via Taylor & Francis Online.
  4. "An Ark for Vanished Wildlife". The New Yorker. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  5. "The teenagers hoping to save rare amphibians and reptiles from extinction". ITV News. 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  6. "Celtic Reptile & Amphibian". Exotics Keeper Magazine. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  7. Horton, Helena (2021-04-06). "Frog turns blue for first time in 700 years amid calls for rare amphibians to be reintroduced to Britain". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  8. Davis, Margaret (2021-04-07). "Blue Moor Frog Once Again Seen in the UK After 700 Years in Time for Mating Season". Science Times. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  9. "Distribution of Rana arvalis in Europe: a historical perspective" (PDF). Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie. 13: 135–150.
  10. Barkham, Patrick (2023-07-07). "European pond turtle could return to British rivers and lakes". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  11. Griffiths, Sarah. "Can a long-lost turtle help to restore Britain's wetlands?". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  12. "Celtic Reptile & Amphibian". Exotics Keeper Magazine. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  13. Celtic Reptile & Amphibian | BRITAINS COLD-BLOODED REWILDERS, retrieved 2023-01-05
  14. Gleed-Owen, Chris Paul (March 2000). "Subfossil records of Rana cf. lessonae, Rana arvalis and Rana cf. dalmatina from Middle Saxon (c. 600-950 AD) deposits in eastern England: Evidence for native status". Amphibia-Reptillia. 21: 57–65. doi:10.1163/156853800507273 – via ResearchGate.
  15. "Agile frog population rises following conservation efforts". BBC News. 2016-05-24. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  16. "Agile frog | Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust". wildlife.durrell.org. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  17. Snell, Charles (February 2006). "Status of the common tree frog in Britain". British Wildlife: 153–160 – via ResearchGate.
  18. Raye, Lee (October 2017). "Frogs in pre-industrial Britain". The Herpetological Journal. 27: 368–378 – via British Herpetological Society.
  19. "Extinct British wildlife | The Wildlife Trusts". www.wildlifetrusts.org. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  20. "The state of nature: 41 per cent of the UK's species have declined since the 1970s". www.nhm.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  21. Cribdon, Becky (2021). "Using sedaDNA from North Sea sediment cores to reconstruct the early Holocene palaeoenvironment" (PDF). PhD thesis, University of Warwick: 121 – via University of Warwick.
  22. Stuart, Antony J. (January 2008). "Pleistocene occurrences of the European pond tortoise (Emys orbicularis L.) in Britain". Boreas. 8 (3): 359–371. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3885.1979.tb00818.x – via ResearchGate.
  23. Gent, Tony (March 2013). "Historical and current situation of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the United Kingdom" – via ResearchGate. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  24. The UK Needs To REWILD These Reptiles And Amphibians, retrieved 2023-01-05
  25. "Recovering the northern pool frog – England's rarest amphibian". The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  26. "Pool frog". The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  27. "Rewilding". Retrieved 2022-08-05.
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