Conservation Status
All species of newt are protected in Europe. There are laws prohibiting the killing, destruction, and the selling of newts. While the species is by no means endangered, IUCN lists insufficient data to make an assessment for two of the subspecies.
In the UK, the Smooth Newt is protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) with respect to sale only. It is therefore illegal to sell individuals of the species, but their destruction or capture is still permitted. They are also listed under Annex III of the Bern Convention. The Smooth newt is the only newt native to Ireland and it is protected there under the Wildlife Acts . It is an offence to capture or kill a newt in Ireland without a licence.
Read more about this topic: Smooth Newt
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