In order to better assess the spread of Bsal and the associated risk to salamanders in Austria, Bsal monitoring has been carried out since 2016. Thanks to the tremendous support of volunteer and self-funded biologists, the same salamander populations are checked annually, where possible. Monitoring has now been extended to all nine federal states of Austria. To date, over 3,200 skin swabs from native salamanders at over 80 locations have been tested negative for the pathogen. It is also particularly noteworthy that the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna has been analysing our samples free of charge for ten years.

We are delighted that our efforts have resulted in visitors to the Dürrenstein-Lassingtal wilderness area and the Rothwald forest, the last primeval forest in Central Europe, which is home to both Fire Salamanders and Alpine Salamanders, being required to disinfect their shoes and equipment before a guided tour and being informed about the fungal disease at the same time.
As the fungus most likely originated in Asia and was introduced by animals in captivity, over 900 additional samples from animals in private and zoo captivity were also tested, which also showed no evidence of the Bsal fungus.
Unfortunately, the danger has not been averted, but is right on our doorstep. The nearest location where animals testing positive for Bsal were found is only about 50 km from the northern border of Tyrol. With our monitoring, we can only venture an annual assessment at specific points in time and are dependent on reports of dead animals found by the public in order to be able to quickly investigate a possible outbreak.