Darwin’s Frog!

Rhinoderma darwinii. Photo by Mono Andes

Just back from a very quick but productive trip to Santiago and Concepcion to see the current breeding facilities for Darwin’s Frog Rhinoderma darwinii. This unique species was historically found in many places in Chile and Argentina but habitat loss and other pressures have worked to dwindle its numbers. The only other species of Darwin’s Frog Rhinoderma rufum has not been seen in many years and continues to elude field researchers. Both exhibit forms of parental care with the male carrying tadpoles in it’s vocal sack.  

The National Zoo facility in Santiago is coming along really well. The building looks fantastic and will surely be a treat for visitors peering into the lab. Atlanta Botanical Gardens staff were there recently installing tanks and plumbing and Marcela and Mauricio are working hard to get things polished off. It will serve as an excellent facility for showcasing this important conservation effort and the commitments of the players to keep it going. I think they hope to start with a few specimens this winter if I recall. The Atlanta Botanical Garden has launched a website at  www.savedarwinsfrogs.org detailing their efforts on this project. 

The Concepcion facility is also looking good. Marcela Tirado and I visited for the day and by luck met up with Klaus Busse who was in town. Klaus offered much of his wonderful experience to Dr. Juan Carlos Ortiz and graduate student Carlos Barrientos who have been maintaining eleven animals there since April 09. I witnessed a very solid connection made between National Zoo and Concepcion staff regarding husbandry issues, food colonies, and overall collaboration on their programs.

My hunch is that they will reproduce them very soon, as we observed calling and amplexus all day! 

 

Baby “alien” frogs feasting on their moms’ eggs

Click link below for video

You have to see this video from BBC showing tadpoles swarming their mom to feast on her infertile eggs. This rare glimpse is something you wouldn’t be able to see if it weren’t for the captive breeding programs of organizations to save endangered species. It’s all connected to the umbrella program of Amphibian Ark.

Excerpts from the story:

The remarkable footage was recorded at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, in Jersey, which took in 12 of the rescued frogs. Twenty-six others went to Parken Zoo in Sweden, and 12 are now housed in ZSL London Zoo.

“We thought that the eggs would come out and drop to the bottom of the nest and then the tadpoles would start eating them. But the footage shows about 40 tadpoles congregating around the female and eating the eggs as they come out of the female’s body.”

 

First of five reasons frogs are going extinct: chytrid

There are about 6,000 species of amphibians on the planet today. By the time we pass on and leave the world in our children’s hands, one-third to one-half of the species will have gone extinct. It’s projected by scientists to be the most significant mass extinction since the dinosaur. Maybe you’ve heard about this. Maybe not. But following is a straightforward accounting of the tectonic changes behind the massive, global disappearance of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians.  The way to act is to read up and help Amphibian Ark at www.amphibianark.org.

Chytrid, the AIDS of amphibia – Chytrid is a fungal borne disease that is toxic to 80% of amphibian species. For thousands of years, it was confined to a section of Africa. The African Clawed Frog was one of the lucky 20% of species that was immune to the disease. But when the medical industry discovered African Clawed Frogs could be used as an ingenious pregnancy test for humans, they shipped the frogs out of Africa to all parts of the world. The species carried the Chytrid fungus with it, and the disease exploded. Most recently it has decimated the chicken frog population of Montserrat, and crossed the Panama Canal. Here are links to more information:

Watch for future posts that complete the five reasons:

Habitat destruction -

Pollution -

Global Warming -

Indifference -

 

Frogs get star treatment in National Geographic

What Jennifer Holland has reported in National Geographic is one of the best summaries of the amphibian crisis I have read. The photos are beautiful, the anecdotes fresh and unforgettable. You need to read it. Click HERE.

 

Change your clock, save a frog

Nice to see this effort from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums:

Zoos and aquariums across the country will hold events and activities to raise awareness about amphibian conservation. Scheduled events include live encounters with amphibians, informative amphibian exhibits, programs on “frog friendly” backyards, zookeeper talks about amphibian ecosystems, crafts, contests, games, prizes, and all kinds of family fun.

AZA

It is estimated that at least one-third of known amphibian species are threatened with extinction. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, with their demonstrated expertise in endangered species breeding programs and commitment to conservation, are meeting this challenge. Learn more at http://www.aza.org/ConScience/spring-forward/.

WHAT: Spring Forward for Amphibians!

WHEN: The switch to Daylight Savings time on or before March 8th.

WHERE: At an AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium near you http://www.aza.org/FindZooAquarium/.

CONTACT: Courtney Jordan, AZA, 301-562-0777, ext. 235

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, the AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, please visit www.aza.org.

 

PBS Nature croaks for frogs around earth day

From the people who brought you “Silence of the Bees”: PBS NATURE will croak about amphibian crisis in April: http://tinyurl.com/aejzkb
Here’s the news release about the April 5 special:

There is an environmental crisis unfolding in our own backyard and around the globe. As the celebration of Earth Day draws near, NATURE takes an in-depth look at the greatest mass extinction of amphibians since the dinosaurs. Frogs have been on this planet for more than 250 million years; now scientists are struggling to keep them alive. NATURE “Frogs: The Thin Green Line” airs Sunday, April 5, 2009, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on PBS.

Researchers have found evidence that one of the major reasons for the loss of one-third of our amphibians today stems from a fungus called chytrid. Unfortunately, the experts don’t know where it started and don’t know how to stop it. What they do know is that it grows in high altitudes, needs water and requires a host to spread. The hosts are the many beautiful species of amphibians the disease destroys.

“Once again, we’re fortunate to be working with Emmy-Award winning filmmaker Allison Argo,” says Fred Kaufman, executive producer of NATURE. “Allison is able to craft a powerful story with remarkable footage capturing the intimate details of both life and death of these creatures.”

Frogs sit right in the middle of the food chain, causing a tremendous change in the ecosystem affecting fish, water quality, snakes and birds. Because of chytrid, other creatures are disappearing. In Central Panama, biologists have evacuated frogs from the forest in order to save their lives. Today, their facility shelters 58 species of frogs — some of the rarest on earth.

Where once there were the calls of frogs, there is now silence, and this silence is traveling through Central America and South America. Yet two hours south of the Panama Canal, there is a small patch of forest called Burbayar, where frogs live as they have for millions of years. Scientists in Panama are hoping this disease hasn’t yet reached this isolated forest. The Burbayar seems to be healthy, with thriving frogs and insects. The question is, for how long?

NATURE has won nearly 450 honors from the television industry, parent groups, the international wildlife film community and environmental organizations, including 10 Emmys, three Peabodys and the first award given to a television program by the Sierra Club. Most recently, the series won a Peabody Award for “Silence of the Bees.”

 

Wanna watch Jeff Corwin’s amphibian special?

Thanks to the CoquiFrogNews blog , I learned that Jeff Corwin’s Animal Planet special on the amphibian crisis can be viewed in its entirety HERE. Mr. Corwin is right up there with Sir David Attenborough in raising awareness of the crisis, and he is a major supporter of Amphibian Ark.

 

Scientists Scramble to Solve Amphibian Death Puzzle

Report this morning from San Diego’s CW6 News, reporter Elsa Sevilla. See video on TV station’s Web site here.

A fungus in amphibians is killing thousands of animals around the world.

The statistics are alarming. Twenty-five of the world’s top scientists, experts and amphibian veterinarians gathered at the San Diego Zoo to discuss solutions to the problem. It’s all part of a three-day conference at the Zoo which ended Wednesday.

“Populations worldwide have declined because of this disease, Chytrid Fungus,” says Doctor Allan Pessier, a scientist at the San Diego Zoo.

Scientists say the deadly disease is not only killing amphibians, but thousands of species are becoming extinct, too. The fungus attacks the amphibian’s skin. In frogs, it can be deadly because frogs use their bodies to drink water. The disease can be transfered to other amphibians as the fungus survives in spores that live in the water. Both amphibians in captivity and those in the wild are known to be infected. The amphibians at the San Diego Zoo have been tested for the fungus and they tested negative.

“You go to a place that was healthy six months ago and is now covered with dead frogs all over the ground and the populations never recovers,” says Doctor Joseph Mendelson from the Atlanta Zoo in Georgia.

Mendelson conducts research at the Atlanta Zoo, but also travels around the world to see first hand what has happened to hundreds of species that are now extinct because of the disease.

It is not known exactly where the disease originated, but some experts believe it may have first been detected in Africa. Currently, South and Central America, and Australia are now seeing an alarming number of amphibians die due to the fungus.

“The Experts on the issue are here at the San Diego Zoo meeting with each other, exchanging ideas, developing tests, developing strategies, ways to combat this,” says Anne Redice of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, or IMLS, in Washington, D.C.

Thanks to a grant from IMLS, scientists, experts and veterinarians gathered for the three-day conference this week. They are looking for solutions to eradicate the deadly disease, but they are also looking to create a standardized method of testing in order to stop the fungus from spreading from amphibians in the wild to those who have been relocated to zoos around the country and the world.

“We are losing part of our eco-system. It will have ramifications on how the eco-system functions,” says Mendelson.

Hoping to prevent a major impact on the environment, scientists say they are literally, scrambling for answers to save thousands of species from extinction.

 

Cleaning the frogs before they hop on the ark

San Diego Zoo hosted a conference of scientists to review new, stringent standards for making sure amphibians don’t have the frog killer chytrid fungus as they come to zoos for “protective custody” against the many forces that are wiping them out in the wild. Story here.

 

Highlights from the year of the frog

Amphibian Ark has recapped highlights of the year of the frog in a newsletter I just received. Am pasting it below for any of you not on the email list:

The end of the Year of the Frog…the beginning of the Decade of the Amphibian?

By Kevin Zippel, Kevin Johnson, Lesley Dickie, Elizabeth Townsend

Some of our favourite activities include: Global Leap Frog. On New Year’s Eve 2007, thirty-three zoos in seventeen countries around the world participated in a synchronized Leap Frog event to ring in the Year of the Frog. The rockin’ launch party in Indonesia. Taman Safari’s YOTF launch party attracted a couple thousand people and included a rock concert and fireworks. Kermit on capital hill and in space. Not only did Kermit the Frog lobby for his kin on capital hill 11th March 2008 he flew on the 122nd flight of the Space Shuttle to raise awareness for amphibians. JAZA embraced the Year of the Frog. JAZA’s Year of the Frog campaign, was promoted in 45 institutions throughout Japan, including zoos, aquariums and museums. Snow sculptures at Perm Zoo. The Perm Zoo of Russia launched YOTF by taking advantage of an abundant local resource – snow! – that they sculpted into giant amphibians. Amphibious nuptials on Leap Day. On 29 February 2008 (Leap Day!), Nick and Sue Pinder of Curraghs Wildlife Park in the UK got married and asked all of their guests to donate to AArk in lieu of giving them gifts. Frog’s Leap Bridge. Edinburgh Zoo’s Polly Philpot dressed up like a frog and rappelled down the 4th bridge to raise awareness and money. Vancouver’s clever poster. Our friends at the Vancouver Aquarium created a very clever poster to help the public visualize a world without amphibians. Durrell’s Frog Prince pantomime. In January 2008, staff at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Jersey put on a unique pantomime called “The Frog Prince – a pantomime with a hoppy ending”, in support of the EAZA amphibian campaign. The pantomime combined elements of the traditional fairy tale with conservation messaging to create a fun show for the whole family to enjoy. Our princess patrons. We were thrilled to share the company of two real-life princesses: Princess Xenia of Saxony thrilled children by kissing a (fake) frog at an event at Leipzig Zoo, and the Crown Princess of Sweden helped launch the opening of a wetland exhibit at Nordens Ark. SAZARC and signatures. Thanks to Sally Walker and her team, India contributed more signatures to our global signature campaign than the rest of the world combined. Albuquerque’s Halloween party. With frogs as a central theme, Albuquerque Biological Park hosted 14,000 people at their 20th annual Zoo Boo event. Johannesburg’s Christmas party. A group of 200 underprivileged children from three of Joburg’s hospices will be brought to the zoo for presents and a tour with the 2008 Miss World contestants. Little boys and girls. It’s not just zoo people getting excited about amphibians. Joseph Miscimara of Chicago, IL, USA told guests invited to his 9th birthday party to make donations to AArk in lieu of bringing gifts. Twelve-year-old Samara Nicolson of Queensland started her own newsletter to raise awareness locally (and globally!) about her beloved amphibians. The second graders from Tremont Elementary School in Ohio held a read-a-thon and craft fair to raise funds for AArk, and for Halloween they all dressed as frogs for their school’s Halloween parade (see article from Tremont Elementary School students). At their recent conference in Memphis, the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) organized a dinner and silent auction to benefit AArk and NABT with AArk patron Jean-Michel Cousteau as the featured speaker. Publicity: We helped generate countless articles, including 2,000 local stories in just the past six months. The advertising equivalent value of our efforts was nearly $1 million! On 20th November, Animal Planet debuted Jeff Cowin’s new documentary “The Vanishing Frog” which highlighted AArk and our partners’ projects from all around the world. The documentary was sponsored by our partner Clorox. On 20th-21st November, the Zoological Society of London hosted a symposium “Halting the Global Decline in Amphibians” with keynote delivered by YOTF patron Sir David Attenborough. The event was funded by ZSL, WCS, and WT Partnership (see separate article in this newsletter). Building capacity – AArk partners report successes: Eighty-five new rescue populations. Fifteen new biosecure areas with 100 in planning. $4.4 million spent on captive programs with $12.1 million in the next five years. $868,000 spent on fieldwork with $2.1 million in the next five years. Ten prioritization workshops. Eleven training workshops. Two new AArk advisory groups (Taxon Management and Cryobiology). Fundraising: Our naming auctions raised $23,000 for fieldwork in Venezuela. Our partners The Amphibian Project raised ~$25,000 in YOTF calendar sales for the Critically Endangered Large-crested Toad Ollotis cristata. EAZA members collectively raised $600,000. JAZA and ARAZPA followed with $20,000 each!. Although the YOTF awareness campaign does end with 2008 (more or less, some regions are continuing into the first quarter of 2009), our work is only just beginning. The next challenge is to translate the heightened awareness into action, specifically, fundraising and rescuing! Please don’t stop your excellent work now. If we can sustain our momentum, together we can turn 2008-2017 into the Decade of the Amphibian and save as many of those 500 imperilled amphibians as possible. Thanks!