Every spring, thousands of amphibians leave their winter shelters and begin a dangerous journey towards their breeding ponds. For common toads, frogs and newts, this migration is essential for survival. But many of their ancient routes now cross busy roads. Risky Routes follows this fragile seasonal movement from the perspective of a common toad. Through intimate wildlife cinematography, the film reveals the scale of the challenge faced by amphibians as they navigate human altered landscapes, traffic and shrinking habitats. What may seem like a small roadside event becomes a powerful story about biodiversity loss, coexistence and the hidden lives of animals that are often overlooked. The film also highlights the importance of practical conservation action, from road barriers and rescue efforts to education and local awareness.

Filmmaker details: Jonas Steiner

Jonas Steiner has always been fascinated by nature and has just finished a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences at ETH Zurich. In addition to his work as a fisheries biologist, he works as a freelance filmmaker and underwater photographer. His main focus is often on science communication and topics related to water, large carnivores and human-wildlife conflict.