One of the world’s rarest species of frog, EDGE amphibian number 158, has been airlifted to safety in an heroic attempt to save it from extinction.
Twelve critically endangered mountain chicken frogs are seeking sanctuary in a new rescue facility at ZSL London Zoo after being airlifted off the Caribbean island of Montserrat.
In total 50 frogs have been saved from the island, after it had emerged that amphibians on Montserrat were being killed by chytridiomycosis; a deadly fungal disease which has already lead to the extinction of some of the world’s amphibian. The speedy rescue mission was carried out by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT).
Dr Andrew Cunningham, a senior ZSL scientist, said: “Chytridiomycosis has already decimated the mountain chickens on Dominica and within a few weeks of the disease being diagnosed on the neighbouring island of Montserrat, its impact has been catastrophic. The mountain chicken frog has been virtually wiped out on the island and the number of surviving frogs decreases every day.”
The 50 airlifted mountain chicken frogs, which have been split into three groups, are now being housed in innovative captive breeding units at ZSL London Zoo, the DWCT in Jersey and Parken Zoo in Sweden. ZSL London Zoo is now the only place in the world to house mountain chicken frogs from both Dominica and Montserrat in its captive breeding unit which includes temperature controlled rooms, automated spray systems and dedicated areas for rearing live food. Bio-security measures including full paper suits, masks and gloves worn by keepers, ensure that no pathogens – such as the chytrid fungus – can enter from the outside.
Ian Stephen, ZSL’s Assistant Curator of Herpetology, says: “Our captive breeding unit means that we are now in a great position to support the Mountain chicken frogs from Montserrat at a time when their home is rife of this deadly disease. This ex-situ rescue population gives genuine hope for the future survival of this species.”
In partnership with the DWCT, the ZSL is leading the international programme for the in-situ and ex-situ conservation management of mountain chickens.