Endangered Southern Darwin’s frog dads traveled 7,000 miles to London Zoo, where they ‘gave birth’ to 33 froglets. Their unique breeding method involves carrying tadpoles in vocal sacs. This initiative aims to protect the species from chytridiomycosis, which has severely impacted their populations.
Endangered male Southern Darwin’s frogs have recently ‘given birth’ to 33 froglets in the UK after an extensive 7,000-mile journey from their native island near Chile. Notably, these frogs offer a unique form of parental care by incubating their tadpoles within their vocal sacs until the young emerge from their mouths. This move comes as part of a critical initiative aimed at conserving the species, which is under threat from a deadly fungal condition known as chytridiomycosis.
The journey of these frogs involved meticulous planning, with conservationists utilizing climate-controlled transport. The path included a six-hour boat journey, a 15-hour drive to Santiago, and a final flight to Heathrow. Each male frog, weighing less than 2 grams and measuring under 3 cm, safely carried their developing tadpoles en route to the London Zoo, where they were successfully bred in captivity.
Historically, Southern Darwin’s frogs were first identified by Charles Darwin in 1834. The species has faced severe population declines due to the chytrid fungus, which has affected over 500 amphibian species globally. In 2023, the presence of this infectious fungus was confirmed in the frogs’ habitat in Parque Tantauco, leading to a staggering 90% decline in monitored populations within one year.
On the conservation front, specialists at London Zoo located a safe, chytrid-free population last October, overcoming challenges such as the frogs’ small size and camouflage, which make them difficult to spot in their natural surroundings. Ben Tapley, curator of amphibians at the zoo, emphasized the significance of successfully rearing these froglets as a hopeful sign for the species and a testament to collaborative conservation efforts.
Andrés Valenzuela Sanchez, a researcher with ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, highlighted the importance of these frogs as both a species requiring protection and a model for understanding how to combat chytrid fungus effectively. The successful breeding at London Zoo demonstrates the potential for safeguarding not just Southern Darwin’s frogs, but also other amphibians facing similar threats.
The Southern Darwin’s frog is critically endangered due to a fungal disease known as chytridiomycosis, which has led to significant declines in amphibian populations worldwide. This particular disease affects the skin of amphibians, ultimately disrupting their physiological functions. Efforts to conserve Southern Darwin’s frogs include capturing healthy individuals from their natural habitat to breed them in captivity, thereby ensuring a population can survive while attempts are made to restore their natural environment.
The successful breeding of Southern Darwin’s froglets in the UK represents a significant conservation milestone, particularly in the fight against threats posed by chytridiomycosis. By transporting these frogs from their native habitat to a controlled environment, conservationists hope to not only preserve this species but also develop broader strategies to combat the fungal disease impacting amphibians globally. Continued collaboration and innovative conservation methods are essential for safeguarding vulnerable species.
Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk
