- An endangered toad delayed the British Open on Saturday.
- Natterjack toads are considered extremely rare. Only one or two colonies still exist in southeast England.
A tiny endangered toad hopped onto the green at the British Open, delaying the games for the second time this week.
The natterjack toad's intrusion caused a long delay in the event because only one member of the staff was trained to handle the rare amphibian, according to CNN.
Golfers are accustomed to having their matches interrupted by animals of all kinds. Typically, rules allow players to move animals that are close to their ball without penalty, but since the toad was endangered, it was illegal to move, CNN reported.
The UK Wildlife and Countryside Act says it is a crime to "intentionally or recklessly disturb natterjack toads while they occupy a structure or place used for shelter or protection," according to CNN.
The golfers had to wait for Royal Liverpool's Links Manager James Bledge, who was the only person licensed to handle the toad, to delicately move it off the green, according to the outlet.
Natterjack toads are nocturnal, breed in shallow pools on sand dunes, and their mating calls can be heard miles away, according to The Wildlife Trusts.
The toads are considered "extremely rare," according to The Wildlife Trusts, and only one or two colonies still exist in southeast England.
The natterjack toad incident is not the first time that the British Open had a delay this week. On Friday, three activists from Just Stop Oil ran onto the green before police led them away and arrested four of them.
—Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) July 21, 2023