April 2020 AMPHIBIAN SURVIVAL ALLIANCE NEWTSLETTER Got a story you want to share? Drop Candace an email today! [email protected] Stories from our partners around the world © Chester Zoo © Chester A big leap for a small frog: Conserving the Golden Mantella The Golden Mantella Frog Man- amongst the Malagasy trees for the legal gold mining activity. In urgency, tella aurantiaca is – for now – one foreseeable future. the organization encouraged the of the many Critically Endangered national government to bestow island endemics barely holding on From 2008, Madagasikara Voakajy, a protection over a key area of high in Madagascar’s fragmented for- Malagasy NGO, sought to assess the pond density and remaining forest. ests. Ecosystems here are subject to situation for the species. They found The Mangabe-Ranomena-Sahasaro- some of the most intense anthro- across the frog’s remaining range, tra New Protected Area decreed in pogenic pressures on Earth. Over the forest ponds essential for the 2015 gave much needed hope to the the last decade, Chester Zoo and mantella life cycle were disappear- project. Madagasikara Voakajy have worked ing rapidly as trees were cleared for to ensure the chirrup of these rice fields by slash and burn “tavy”, Chester Zoo joined Madagasikara tiny amphibians can still be heard or water made uninhabitable by il- Voakajy in its surveying efforts from 2012 onwards. Together, we now received agricultural training in crop addressing fundamental questions know that the protected area rotation, composting techniques, around the species’ dispersion, 2019 in review with the Asian Species Action contains at least 276 ponds suitable and the plantation of alternative migration and pond colonization, we for Golden Mantella habitation, crop, with the intention of benefit- can better manage the protected Partnership though we estimate only ~40% of ting people and slowing forest loss. area and drive sustainable use of the If you’d like to know what the IUCN Planning to build regional conserva- If you are working on one of the fol- these ponds contain the species as forest in the years to come. SSC Asian Species Action Partner- tion capacity lowing ASAP amphibians we’d love of 2019. To reliably monitor the population in ship (ASAP) did during 2019, you One of the strategic priorities for to hear from you at [email protected]: the protected area, Chester Zoo re- With the combined approach of ex- can now read our recently released ASAP is to strengthen the capacity With the protected area in place and searchers developed a Golden Man- situ research, and in-situ community Annual Report. Writing an Annual in Southeast Asia to deliver robust, • Ansonia guibei the scale of the situation realized, tella specific capture-mark-recapture led conservation, we are preventing Report is often a good opportunity successful conservation work. A key • Megophrys damrei the approach shifted to a long-term method involving the implanting the extinction of one of the smallest to pause and reflect on hurdles piece of work towards this was do- • Ansonia vidua community-conservation based of a fluorescent elastomer under and rarest frog species on Earth. overcome and achievements made ing a gap analysis of the support al- • Occidozyga tompotika plan. Madagasikara Voakajy led the skin (VIE tagging). This method for the previous year. As usual, the ready available, and to get feedback • Kalophrynus yongi capacity building sessions in forestry is now employed in research to year flew by, so this is a chance to from our Partners on their needs. • Oreolalax sterlingae law and patrolling systems, build- understand the detailed habitat share some of the things we’ve been The work highlighted areas that • Leptobrachella palmata ing a team of forest protectors to requirements and ecological needs working on. conservation organisations felt more • Pelophryne linanitensis ensure the breeding ponds were of the species, and assess the im- support could be given for, including • Leptobrachium kantonishikawai kept safe. Alongside this, villages pact of the conservation actions led Reviewing endemism – a full house accessible and long-term training • Pelophryne murudensis surrounding the protected area by Madagasikara Voakajy. Through for amphibians in project management and leader- • Leptolalax botsfordi In the midst of this crisis, we share Society to our partnership and are ASAP focuses on Southeast Asia. ship. We’re excited to have secured Philautus jacobsoni recent news from the partnership sharing an interview with Teresa It is a region that is incredibly rich funding to begin addressing some of • Leptolalax kecil in the spirit of celebrating achieve- Camacho Badani (a Future Leader in biodiversity but facing extreme these priorities in the coming years. • Platymantis insulatus ments to date and looking ahead of Amphibian Conservation from pressure from habitat loss and • Leptophryne cruentata to a brighter future. This includes: Bolivia). overexploitation. Our remit is Growing the Partnership January 2020’s World Congress Southeast Asian land and freshwater Much like the Amphibian Sur- To find out more visit www.specie- of Herpetology in New Zealand, Although nothing can distract vertebrates that are listed as Criti- vival Alliance, ASAP is an alliance of sonthebrink.org, or follow us on where we ran the Amphibian Con- from the current context of the cally Endangered, known as ASAP Partners, all with a shared interest Twitter@IUCN_ASAP. servation Research Symposium and COVID-19 crisis, we sincerely hope species. Currently, there are 15 in averting the extinction of ASAP EDITORIAL signed the WCH Climate Change these stories provide you with in- amphibians that sit in this camp. We species. In a year when the number Declaration; the Amphibian Red terest and inspiration. Once again, always knew that the region is home of ASAP species unfortunately in- Our global partnership is linked by List Authority’s Global Amphibian we send our very best wishes for to many species found nowhere else creased, we were pleased to see the many common struggles, and the Assessment update from Sri Lanka; your health and happiness over in the world, but a piece of work we number of Partners grow to almost recent developments surround- the Asian Species Action Partner- this time, and may you recover conducted highlighted just how true 100. There is a huge opportunity for ing the COVID-19 pandemic have ship’s latest annual report; Chester swiftly from any illness. Please do this is. It showed us that every single knowledge sharing and network- added a new and urgent threat. Zoo’s efforts conserving the Golden continue to get in touch with your ASAP amphibian is a country-en- ing across ASAP, something we will You remain firmly in our thoughts Mantella (Mantella aurantiaca); developments, difficulties, op- demic. This increases their vulnera- focus on facilitating in 2020. as you collectively and individually Zoos Victoria’s work with the Baw portunities, and thoughts. We are bility and makes the efforts of ASAP cope with the challenges thrown Baw Frog (Philoria frosti) Recovery rooting for each and every one of Partners even more vital. your way on a daily basis. As the Programme; Froglife’s 2020 UK pro- you. Please stay safe and well. impact of this virus is revealed over gramme for road mitigation tun- the coming weeks and months, we nels; Synchronicity Earth’s descrip- Helen Meredith, PhD will do our utmost to continue to tion of FUNDAECO’s rediscovery Executive Director highlight and support your work. of Jackson’s Climbing Salamander Amphibian Survival Alliance You are all involved in wonderful (Bolitoglossa jacksoni) in Guate- and important initiatives that help mala 40 years after the last known build a positive future for amphib- sighting; a lawsuit supported by ians, and we could not be more Save The Frogs! Ghana to protect grateful for your contributions to the Atewa Forest from bauxite conservation worldwide. However, exploitation activities that imperil it all starts with your health and the Critically Endangered Afia Bi- wellbeing. We hope you can get rago Puddle Frog (Phrynobatrachus the time and space you need to afiabirago) and Togo Slippery Frog sustain yourselves through this (Conraua derooi); and the Wildlife immensely difficult and uncertain Trust of India’s work developing time. We wish you, your fami- wetland management and protec- lies, friends and colleagues great tion across Uttar Pradesh. We also © Arief Tajalli © Arief strength, health, and hope. welcome the Bristol Zoological Marin da Fonte © Luis Fernando SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana joins lawsuit Froglife’s tunnels campaign 2020 Over the past six years Froglife have Now that we have good data to going the Toads VR, which is 13% of against government to protect Atewa been monitoring the success of road demonstrate the efficacy of road the total visitor base. mitigation tunnels for amphibians. mitigation tunnels for amphibians, Forest We have used unique infrared time the next step is to promote their The campaign is gaining high levels SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana has joined lapse cameras to monitor amphib- use. Too often research is dissemi- of support and once we have 20 Civil Society Organisations to file ian movements through 34 tunnels nated in the academic world and reached a substantial number of sig- a notice with the Attorney General across seven sites in four countries does not reach the decision mak- natories, we will use that to provide and Minister of Justice against the across Europe (England, Scotland, ers and, in this case, infrastructure greater impetus to our guidance to Government of Ghana. This action France and Portugal). During this developers. Froglife has initiated a decision makers. We will contact the has become necessary to immedi- time period we have recorded campaign to promote more good relevant Government departments, ately halt ongoing bauxite ‘explo- 4,760 individual amphibians from quality road mitigation tunnels: all UK Local Authority transport ration’ activities at Atewa Forest 11 species including Common Frog https://www.froglife.org/what-we- departments, ecological consultants Reserve and seek legal orders to (Rana temporaria), Agile Frog (R.