Plea for Smooth Newts for a Government project.

[mike]

This email was received from David Bird <drbird_herp1@yahoo.co.uk>

"Dear all,

I have been contacted by Dr.Barry Hill of CEFAS, Centre for
Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science who is running a
project to find out the susceptability of the British Amphibia to
Ranavirus. This is an Iridovirus that seems to effect both fish and
amphibians and is often causes mass deaths in both and is one of the
diseases that may be transferred by trade in both ornamental fish
and amphibia that are later released into the wild.
Dr.Hill needs 4- 500 eggs or tadpoles or even gravid females of the
Smooth Newt for this project. I know it may be late in the season
for eggs or gravid females but are there any group members that
would be able to help.
Please contact me in the first instance if you think you may be able
to help or know of anyone that may be able to provide this number of
specimens for this year or may be next year.
There is a web site on the project which is at
http://www.ranavirus.net/ and is being carried out in several
countries of Europe".

 

[philip]

mike , i believe i may be able to help with both adults and eggs, can you email me for details

 

[mike]

Thanks for your response Philip.

Please contact Dave Bird directly, (South of England Conservation Officer for the British Herpetological Society), who will no doubt introduce you to Barry Hill.