Eastern Tree Frog
Eastern Tree Frog occurs in eastern and central parts of Europe, the range also extends into the extreme western part of Asia.
The countries of occurrence include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia (South European part), Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
Due to ongoing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat, the population is inferred to be decreasing. Agricultural pollution from pesticides is a major threat.
Conservation
■ Listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats as a strictly protected fauna species.
■ Listed in Annex IV of EU Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora (the Habitats Directive).
■ An especially protected species in Latvia (the Cabinet of Ministers’ Regulations No. 396 on November 14, 2000).
Reintroduction of Eastern Tree Frog in Latvia
Riga Zoo’ most significant contribution to biodiversity conservation in Latvia is the successful reintroduction of the Eastern Tree Frog (Hyla orientalis). In 1988–1992, a total of 4110 Tree Frog young, bred in the Zoo’s Laboratory of Ecology, were released into the wild in Blažģa Ezers protected nature area. As a result, a healthy wild Eastern Tree Frog population was established in Southwestern Latvia. The reintroduction project was initiated and led by Juris Zvirgzds, Head of the Zoo’s Laboratory of Ecology. In 1997, Juris Zvirgzds received the award of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia for his contribution to nature protection and conservation of biodiversity.
Publications
Taxonomy
■ Phylum Chordata – chordates
■ Class Amphibia – amphibians
■ Order Anura – frogs
■ Family Hylidae – tree frogs and their allies
■ Species Hyla orientalis – Eastern Tree Frog
European Tree Frog (Hyla arborea) that formerly was regarded as a polytypic species in 2008 was divided into several, quite similar new species. According to this approach, the tree frog populations of Eastern Europe and also Latvia, belong to Hyla orientalis.
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