The yellow belly hamlet (Bombina variegata) in the Gesäuse National Park and Natura 2000 area AT221000

The yellow belly hamlet does not occur frequently in the National Park and Natura 2000 area Gesäuse and was not registered at all before the National Park was established in the area. First demonstrated in 2004, it was confirmed several times in the context of national park research and finally mapped more precisely in 2010 at three locations. The aim of the 2012 mapping was to check the previously unprocessed potential distribution areas for possible occurrences and to identify the overall distribution in the area.

It turned out that the great hopeous areas, the mountain pastures in the Johnbach valley and the Koderbodens, are apparently free from Bombina variegata (despite an unprocessed valley population in the Kölbl-Griesmayrfilz area). On the other hand, the postulated occurrence west of the Bruckgraben in the Lauferwald could not only be confirmed, but also proved to be probably the largest unkenvolk in the Gesäuse. In addition to previous mappings, deposits scattered in the valley floor could now also be found. It is too early to decide whether there are drifted specimens from the western foreland, or whether independent small populations could establish themselves here.

With around 80 adult specimens in the national park, the yellow belly hamlet is certainly not a leading species of the protected area. In some areas, the issue of reproductive waters is a heavy, almost insoluble task for small animals. In some places, almost only artificial paints on roadsides are accepted because there is a lack of natural habitats. The question is to what extent the cultivation of the landscape is involved in this deficiency. Nevertheless, Bombina variegata tries to assert herself in this difficult environment.

Looking at the national park’s target species management, there remains a shady impression. The undeniably good intentions of natural space management are often counteracted by Ho-Ruck actions of the forest group and by the basic phlegma of farmers. Beautiful, dry roads and the well-being of Almrind and red deer are made of good tradition above the modest demands of the amphibians. For example, the preservation and promotion of roadside paints would be achieved with very simple means and with a budget that would only claim a fraction of the money annually used for all kinds of worlds such as the red deer every week.