Thank You Phil – We Will Miss You So Much by IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Tion of Selflessness and Generosity, It On, Just As He Did
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
February 2021 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 Thank you Phil – we will miss you so much By IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist tion of selflessness and generosity, it on, just as he did. Group and Amphibian Survival Alli- always willing to help and support Phil lived his life with intense pur- ance anyone, even if he himself was up pose. As amphibian conservationists to his eyeballs in work, and all done and as people we have our work It is with great sadness that we with his characteristic brilliance cut out to continue the legacy of are sharing this message with you. and distinctive sense of humour. the extraordinary human being that Our friend, colleague and mentor, No challenge was too great and no Phil was. As Phil always used to say, Professor Phil Bishop, passed away concern too small. He brought his “Let’s do it!” after a short and unexpected illness tenacity and deep love of amphib- Thank you, Phil, for showing us, by surrounded by family on Saturday, ians to everything he did, reminding example, how to be better people. January 23rd, 2021 New Zealand us all of the true meaning behind You exemplified living life to the Time. our work. It seems impossible to fullest and leaving the world a much Phil was a true great and such a imagine a time without him, and yet better place. bright light in all our lives. Our col- the imprint of his expertise, dedica- There is a hole in our hearts. It is in lective hearts break for Phil’s family, tion and personality is on everything the shape of Phil. all his friends and an entire conser- we do. The number of people that vation community. He touched so Phil befriended and influenced many lives and meant so much to all became apparent over the last few of us. weeks, with an outpouring of mes- Phil was at the very heart of build- sages of grief and love from liter- ing a global amphibian conservation ally every corner of the world. The movement, and he ensured that this magnitude of his influence ensures heart was a kind and inclusive one. that we will always be acting in his As Chief Scientist of the Amphib- memory, honouring his passion and ian Survival Alliance since 2011 and approach at every step. We will miss Co-Chair of the Amphibian Special- him beyond words and will strive to ist Group since 2012, he was in his continue his mission. Our gratitude element when representing ASA and as a community is boundless. So ASG around the world, welcoming many of us will carry his memory new people, organizations and ideas and the flame of his torch through- to both. Phil was a living incarna- out our lives, and endeavour to pass 2 Table of contents 1 Thank you Phil – we will miss you 12 The Conservation Evidence Jour- so much nal: Call for papers Frogress Report 4 Planting steps for frog conserva- 13 A new poster for Harlequin Frogs tion in Western Ghats, India (genus Atelopus) is now available Editorial 5 Tribute to Marcelo Menin, a Brazil- 14 Saving the planet, one frog at a Committee ian amphibian champion time Candace Hansen-Hendrikx 6 Environmental DNA detection: 15 Facilitating species conservation Editor-in-Chief Additional perspectives and applica- planning workshops: Online course tions for rare and cryptic bromeliad dwelling frogs 17 Introducing Rio Forqueta, a Key Luis Fernando Marin da Fonte Biodiversity Area to protect the Editor 7 Goodbye “Gonza”, Champion of Admirable Red-Belly Toad the Yellow-eared Parrot Helen Meredith 18 BMW Group, Tetra Pak and Assistant Editor 8 The conservation of Mantella Schüco International express con- cowanii, a threatened frog of Mada- cerns about sourcing aluminium gascar from Ghana’s irreplaceable Atewa Kaya Klop-Toker Forest Assistant Editor 9 #AmphibianEyes 19 Getting to know Fortunate Phaka Kirsty Kyle 10 A new facility for the conserva- Assistant Editor tion of the Sehuencas Water Frog 20 Meet Esther Matthew at the K’ayra Center of the Museo d´Orbigny in Bolivia 11 A finding that brings hope for a still unknown Harlequin Frog #AmphibianEyes ©Katie Garrett & Jonathan Kolby 3 © Vivek Menon © Vivek Planting steps for frog conservation in Western Ghats, India By Wildlife Trust India cess, the team decided to create ad- the first. To ensure a moist setting [email protected] ditional suitable breeding grounds, in the surrounding, a drip irriga- where they identified two new sites tion system was set up. The team Amphibians are the group with inside the plantation complex. Brav- is currently planting some vegeta- the highest proportion of threat- ing the monsoons, the team man- tion around the pond where several ened species. In India, a tree frog aged to dig and construct a 10 feet frogs were found taking shelter Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus, long, 3 feet wide, and 2.5 feet deep under the leaf litter. We hope to see commonly known as the Anaimalai waterhole lined with jute sacks and more R. pseudomalabaricus inhabit Flying Frog or False Malabar Gliding tarpaulin to hold water through the the area in the coming months. Frog, which is Critically Endangered dry period. Plants like wild turmeric Collaterals are also being developed and endemic to a restricted range in and cardamom, preferred by the in local language, to sensitize the Western Ghats, is hanging on to its species were planted around the plantation management on the use very survival. waterhole, creating a natural setting of organic fertilizer and, motivating A baseline survey conducted in July for the frogs. them in becoming a “frog friendly” recorded them breeding in an arti- By November 2020, the team was establishment. WTI has also initiated ficial water tank (used for irrigation successful in finding R. pseudoma- discussions with amphibian experts purpose) inside a cardamom planta- labaricus and ten other species and IUCN SSC Amphibian specialist tion. The plantation management of anurans along with odonates group in developing a robust conser- practices employed around the tank, and reptiles inhabiting the new vation plan for R. pseudomalabari- such as cleaning of dry/dead carda- waterhole. The following month, cus and other targeted threatened mom leaves, de-weeding, clearing another monitoring visit was made frog species in the Western Ghats. of water found to be negatively im- by the team, where they observed Recovery of threatened species is pacting the species breeding cycle. Anamalai Flying Frog and other one of the priorities of Wildlife Trust Known to have strong site fidelity, species like Nyctibatrachus poocha of India (WTI)– an organization with Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), along (Meowing Night Frog), Indirana sp. a mission to conserve wildlife and its with local partners, reached out to (Indian frog) and Indosylvirana sp. habitat in partnership with commu- the management and initiated a (Golden-backed Frog) resting around nities and governments. consultative dialog and conservation the waterhole. Based on the team’s action to restore the breeding pool. suggestions, an inlet and outlet from After zero disturbance measures the waterhole to a nearby stream in taken around the water tank, on a the plantation was paved for intrin- monitoring visit was made by WTI sic aeration during the dry spell. The and forest authorities, the team team also began work on the second sighted three new nests of R. pseu- waterhole (8ft length & width and domalabaricus. Looking at the suc- 2.5 ft depth) few meters away from 4 Tribute to Marcelo Menin, a Brazilian amphibian champion By Denise Rossa Feres, UNESP (Bra- ience, humility, patience, joy, peace personal standoff, I always thought, zil) ... Menin gathered so many qualities “How would Menin act in this situa- in just one person, that it would fill tion?” He inspired me, directed me, With a broken heart, we cry for the pages and pages to complete the reassured me and gave me security. loss of our dear colleague and belov- list. It was impossible to be close I was his supervisor when he was an ed friend Prof. Dr. Marcelo Menin, to Menin and do not feel all those undergraduate student. I lose a son one of the most prominent amphib- feelings in him. It was impossible of the heart. Science loses a profes- ian researchers in Brazil. Besides to be with him and to not feel safe, sional of the greatest competence, being a professor at the Federal supported, understood… impossible seriousness and dedication. Educa- University of Amazonas, he coordi- not to feel extreme trust in him. tion loses a teacher, in the deepest nated the post-graduate program in Menin never lost his temper and sense that the Brazilian educator Zoology and was one of the curators calm with anything or anyone. I and philosopher Paulo Freire gave to of the University’s zoological collec- never heard him criticize or judge this profession. And the World loses tion. anyone! And it was with this im- a good person, in the best essence During his academic life, Menin mense patience that he did not of what being good means. has published dozens of scientific neglect himself in situations of injus- But ... Menin will stay alive in each articles, books and book chapters on tice, and put himself clearly, strongly of us! In our memories, in the parts different topics such as community and calmly on the wronged side, on of each of us that he helped to ecology, taxonomy, natural history the ethical side. Great character, im- build, and in the lessons that he left and reproductive biology of anurans.