August 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 © Arturo Muñoz © Arturo World’s largest fully aquatic frog faces uncertain future as threats continue to mount By Lindsay Renick Mayer, Global tional conservation measures for the population decline over the last 40 Wildlife Conservation Titicaca Water Frog to prevent the years or so to 50-70 percent, putting extinction of one of the world’s larg- it in the endangered category under In July, Global Wildlife Conserva- est fully aquatic frogs. Red List criteria. tion, Amphibian Survival Alliance, Amphibian Ark, and the IUCN SSC A recent assessment by the IUCN “The 2004 listing was precautionary Amphibian Specialist Group worked has determined that the Titicaca based on the information available together to get the word out about Water Frog is Endangered, rather at the time,” said Arturo Muñoz, the plight of the Titicaca Water Frog than Critically endangered, as regional co-chair of the Bolivian (Telmatobius culeus). Together the previously reported. The change in branch of the Amphibian Special- organizations called on NGOs and status does not reflect a change in ist Group. “But the reality on the the governments of Bolivia and Peru the severity of threats to the spe- ground is unchanged—or even to continue and even bolster bina- cies, but instead revises the rate of worse than it was 16 years ago when © Arturo Muñoz © Arturo the last assessment was conducted. Biodiversity Area, or a site of global cies; strengthening the cross-border The Titicaca Water Frog continues to importance to the planet’s over- comprehensive management of the experience mass die-offs and could all health and the persistence of ecosystems where the species lives go extinct in our lifetime unless con- biodiversity. In addition, the lake is a to mitigate the threats of pollution, servationists and the governments Ramsar Site of International Impor- invasive species and disease; and of Bolivia and Peru remain vigilant tance. increase outreach efforts to local and advance our binational conser- communities about the importance vation work for the species.” Amphibian conservation experts of conserving the Titicaca Water are now calling on the governments Frog. The frog is found only in Lake of Bolivia and Peru to continue Titicaca—South America’s second to implement the actions laid out Experts are also encouraging the largest lake—and its adjacent water in a binational plan developed in governments to work with local con- bodies, which are shared by Peru 2018, which include reducing the servationists on undergoing regu- and Bolivia. Lake Titicaca is a Key illegal trade and sale of the spe- lar, systematic population surveys across the lake to better understand how many frogs still exist, where they live, threats to the largest populations, and the best way to implement conservation measures. Read the full story in English and Spanish. © Arturo Muñoz © Arturo Herp Conservation Ghana receives award to save the Critically Endangered Intermediate Puddle Frog the Conservation Leadership Pro- urgent conservation planning. Spe- gramme. Francis and the team will cifically, Francis and the team will use the grant to save the Critically implement a time-tested behaviour Endangered Intermediate Puddle change program in ten communi- Frog (Phrynobatrachus intermedius). ties aimed at reducing illegal logging This is an evolutionarily distinct frog (raffia) and poisoning of the aquatic endemic to the Ankasa conserva- system. Also, they will survey ten tion area, a key biodiversity site in forest sites, including the Ankasa southwestern Ghana. It occurs in a conservation area and adjoining single sub-population and because areas, to determine the species of this there is growing fear that any distribution and concurrently collect stochastic event could wipe out the both landscape and habitat qual- entire global population. The quality ity predictor variables. Important of the frog’s habitat is in constant outcomes of this project include decline. This loss of habitat quality improved habitat conditions; a spe- is caused by the illegal extraction of cies conservation action plan; and raffia palm from the frog’s riparian enhanced understanding of both habitat to feed a growing furniture the distribution and habitat require- industry, as well as upstream water ments of this Critically Endangered pollution by local farmers. Worst, frog. © Francis Osei-Gyan © Francis information required to make By Herp Conservation Ghana informed management decisions is non-existent. Francis Osei-Gyan from Amphibian Survival Alliance partner Herp Con- This project will reduce threats to servation Ghana just got the Future the extinction of this species and Conservationist Award offered by provide information required for Cultural association and its role in garnering support for conservation: the case of the Mountain Chicken Frog on Dominica By Daniel J. Nicholson, Arun Kanaga- tion affects local opinion towards its chose to conserve and 3) which ani- vel, Josh Baron, Stephen Durand, use and conservation. The Mountain mal people would choose to support Cassandra Murray and Benjamin Chicken is an emblematic species conservation efforts for. The Moun- Tapley. Zoological Society of London on Dominica and was once widely tain Chicken Frog was the least pre- consumed as an unofficial national ferred choice for consumption and The cultural significance of a spe- dish, it also appears on the coat of the most preferred choice for the cies can play an important role in arms and features in local proverbs. amphibian species people would like garnering local support for conser- We used picture-choice questions to to conserve. The Mountain Chicken vation. In a paper recently published explore the effect of the cultural as- fared poorly when compared with in the journal Reptile and Amphibian sociation with the Mountain Chicken other charismatic flagship species Conservation, we used the Critically on public preference in comparison and was the least favoured species. Endangered Mountain Chicken Frog with other species in three different People were more in favour of sup- (Leptodactylus fallax) on Domi- contexts; 1) which species people porting conservation efforts focused nica as a case study to understand would choose to consume; 2) which on the Sisserou Parrot (Amazona whether a species’ cultural associa- amphibian species people would imperialis), the national bird and © Benjamin Tapley the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys is highly threatened and there are conservation programmes, particu- imbricata). Despite the importance on-going population declines, in larly if the programmes are hinged of cultural association when garner- such instances the cultural associa- on the cultural significance attrib- ing local support, our study revealed tion is also likely to become threat- uted to the species. that this association can be easily ened. The association a community eroded when there is competition may have with a species is subject from other more accessible, char- to change; conservation biologists ismatic species. This is important should consider the potential for to consider, especially if a species such associations when initiating Together to conserve: Natural History Museum Alcide d’Orbigny has joined the Amphibian Survival Alliance By Eliana Lizarraga Heredia and Ricardo Céspedes Paz, Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d’Orbigny This month, the Museo de Histo- ria Natural Alcide d’Orbigny from Cochabamba, Bolivia, celebrates joining the Amphibian Survival Al- liance. Under the motto “we take care of life”, the museum is con- vinced that activities related to -re search, education and conservation of threatened species and ecosys- tems are a joint task, a philosophy Arias Ark; Daniel Alarcón © BJoel Sartore/Photo that we share with our partners. At the same time, we recognize With that in mind, and being aware that there are groups that are more of the critical situation of some Being an institution dedicated to sensitive to changes in the environ- amphibians in our country, in 2008 the conservation of biodiversity in ment and that are also key points we started the first captive breeding Bolivia for 17 years, the museum in the food chain, as is the case of program for the Titicaca Water Frog has been able to identify that each amphibians. (Telmatobius culeus) and the Valley part of the ecosystem is important. Water Frog (Telmatobius hintoni). This program was later consolidated As we mentioned before, this is a on in Bolivian coins, “together we as the Centro K’ayra de Investigación joint work between the research- are stronger”! y Conservación de Anfibios Ame- ers that make up the museum, the nazados in Bolivia. communities where the research is carried out, and the institutions that The in situ and ex situ conservation have joined our efforts to guarantee work on the genus Telmatobius has the conservation of these species. allowed the museum to strengthen Some partners are Amphibian Ark, several lines of action and to expand IUCN SOS - Save Our Species, Kansas our work to other species such as City Zoo, Global Wildlife Conserva- the Sehuencas Water Frog (Telmato- tion, Durrell Wildlife Conservation bius yuracare), the Sucre Water Frog Trust, The Rufford Foundation, Na- (Telmatobius simonsi) and the Giant tional Geographic Photo Ark. Even Water Frog (Telmatobius gigas). All though we have made a lot already, this effort