A DECADE OF AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION IN PANAMA 125 Int. Zoo Yb. (2008) 42: 125–135 DOI:10.1111/j.1748-1090.2008.00043.x The principles of rapid response for amphibian conservation, using the programmes in Panama as an example R. GAGLIARDO1, P. CRUMP2, E. GRIFFITH3, J. MENDELSON3, H. ROSS4 & K. ZIPPEL5 1Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, USA, 2Houston Zoo, Houston, Texas 77030, USA, 3El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center, El Valle de Anton, Panama, 4Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30315, USA, 5Amphibian Ark/CBSG, Apple Valley, Minnesota 55124, USA E-mail: [email protected] As a direct response to many threats facing seriously Endangered amphibians: the Panamanian threatened amphibian species, including habitat loss, golden frog Atelopus zeteki (Plate 1) (Zippel, pollution and, more recently, emerging infectious dis- ease, ex situ captive-breeding programmes have proven 2002; IUCN, 2007). PGF became an interna- valuable tools in species preservation. Uniting scientific tional and multi-institutional initiative that research and conservation initiatives, here the growth of has included primary partners at Cı´rculo ex situ conservation for nearly a decade in central Panama Herpetolo´gico de Panama´, the Cleveland is discussed. Looking at three specific projects, it can be Zoo, the Columbus Zoo, the Denver Zoo, the demonstrated that collaborative efforts and multiple- response methods yield positive results in amphibian Detroit Zoo, Lee University, the Maryland conservation and species preservation. At the same time, Zoo in Baltimore, Messiah College, the the lessons learned will be examined in each of these Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and projects to allow for future amphibian conservation the Universidad de Panama´. At the onset of programmes to consider. PGF, Bd was still well over 100 km to the Key-words: amphibians; chytridiomycosis; conserva- west of the range of the Panamanian golden tion; ex situ breeding; Panama; rapid response. frog but all indications were that it was progressing south-eastward and eliminating (among others) species of montane bufonids INTRODUCTION in its path (e.g. Atelopus sp from Monte Amphibian declines in Central America were Verde, Atelopus senex, Atelopus chiriquiensis, first noted in the 1980s with the loss of much Atelopus varius and the Golden toad Bufo of the amphibian community at Monte Verde, periglenes). Because traditional in situ con- Costa Rica (Pounds et al., 1997). At that time, servation measures, such as habitat protec- scientists did not know of amphibian chytrid tion, were ineffective against Bd, the decision fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (or was made to remove representative popula- Bd) and, therefore, it was not sought in the tions from the wild for ex situ management. declining populations. However, it has since In September 2004, Dr Karen Lips from been associated with subsequent mass mor- the University of Southern Illinois and her tality events occurring sequentially south-east research team discovered the first Bd-positive through the Central American isthmus (Fig. 1; sample, as well as small numbers of dead or see Lips et al., 2006). Project Golden Frog dying amphibians in and around the streams (PGF, http://www.projectgoldenfrog.org) was in El Cope´, Panama (Fig. 1). By December of officially formed in 1999 in proactive re- the same year, hundreds of dead amphibians sponse to what was perceived as the pending had been found and collected along the study extinction of one of the world’s most recog- transects. The suddenness and scale of the nizable, culturally significant and Critically event were disturbing, even though declines Int. Zoo Yb. (2008) 42: 125–135. c 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation c 2008 The Zoological Society of London 126 AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION Fig. 1. Spatiotemporal spread of amphibian chytridiomycosis (caused by fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) in Costa Rica and Panama; figure modified and updated with new data presented herein from Fig. 1 in Lips et al., 2006. tions recorded before the arrival of Bd (Lips et al., 2006). The conclusion was that c. 50% of amphibian species and c. 80% of indivi- duals may disappear in a short period of time. These data instigated the call for a meeting of concerned scientists in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The simple question ‘What can we do?’ provided the group with the challenge to take action, which led to the formation of the Amphibian Recovery and Conservation Coa- lition (ARCC) project. Similar to circum- stances that initiated PGF, this group was faced with a challenge of attempting to ward Plate 1. Panamanian golden frog Atelopus zeteki. Ron off a major loss of biodiversity. What makes Gagliardo, Atlanta Botanical Garden. the ARCC project unique is the attempt to salvage multiple species during a ‘crash’ had been witnessed and studied in other using triage techniques under less than ideal locations in both Panama and Costa Rica for conditions. The drastic declines observed at over a decade (Lips et al., 2005). In December El Cope´ were predicted in El Valle, possibly 2004, there was a clear correlation between the last ‘upland’ area of reasonably undis- the sudden decline of an amphibian popula- turbed fauna and habitat of the Talamancan tion and the first arrival of Bd at long-term highlands region of eastern Costa Rica and study transects in central Panama (Lips et al., western Panama, instigating the ARCC pro- 2006). The transects within the Parque Na- ject, where individuals were exported be- cional General de Divisio´n Omar Torrijos cause of a lack of facilities; however, Herrera, near the town of El Cope´, were simultaneously, the feasibility of performing surveyed for over 4 years and declines were this work in Panama was investigated. documented in local populations of most The El Valle Amphibian Conservation amphibians that were far above the fluctua- Center (EVACC) was created to provide an Int. Zoo Yb. (2008) 42: 125–135. c 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation c 2008 The Zoological Society of London A DECADE OF AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION IN PANAMA 127 in-country ex situ facility in which assurance Church, in press). As a direct result of this colonies of seriously threatened, regional en- meeting, two things became immediately demics and other specifically selected species clear that would alter the course of EVACC. could be maintained long term until pertinent First, despite the original intention to do so, threats could be mitigated and the species animals that had been exported from Panama, could be reintroduced. Batrachochytrium housed in the United States in less-stringent dendrobatidis has travelled eastwards along quarantine, should not be returned to Panama the mountain range (Lips et al., 2006) and at to prevent any risk of inadvertently introdu- the time of project initiation was only 50 km cing any novel pathogens. Second, with the away. large number of species requiring ex situ The creation of the EVACC was a direct breeding action, it quickly became clear that response to the need identified by PGF to EVACC would have to do more than breed breed golden frogs in Panama and to the Panamanian golden frogs and display a few political and logistical challenges encoun- other frog species. With this new mandate, tered by ARCC who exported rescued am- the facilities’ ultimate goals were now solidi- phibians because of the lack of suitable in- fied. The primary objectives of EVACC are country facilities. Both these projects relied twofold. The first is to serve as a repository to heavily on the political and logistical frame- prevent the extinction of the threatened am- work put in place by PGF. Initially, three phibian species of El Valle and to use these goals were set. The first aimed to create and populations as a source for reintroductions at maintain an ex situ colony of Panamanian the appropriate time in the future. The second golden frogs in country. Many zoos, tourist is to foster appreciation and raise awareness destinations and hotels in central Panama use of the amphibian fauna of El Valle through these frogs to attract visitors. This ex situ conservation education and research. This colony could be used to supply captive-born paper summarizes the work of PGF and individuals for such displays, alleviating ARCC that led to the creation of the first in- pressure on wild populations. The second country facility in Panama for protection of goal was to house, display and breed amphi- significant amphibian biodiversity. bians rescued from El Cope´ and El Valle during the ARCC project. The third goal was METHODOLOGY AND to serve as an educational centre for the IMPLEMENTATION citizens of Panama, to learn about their native amphibian fauna. It must be noted that initi- Obtaining proper permitting licenses from the ally, the intention was that golden frogs Panamanian agency in charge of the protec- would be returned to Panama to stock tion of natural flora and fauna in country EVACC from PGF and other species from (Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente, ANAM) the ARCC, for project publicity purposes. and making important contacts, PGF initiated Thus, most of the animals destined to be their project focusing on research in streams housed and displayed at EVACC would be in central Panama. From 2001 to 2005, PGF returned from the United States. established seven transects in streams to Fifty ex situ specialists representing 14 gather data on stream quality, as well as countries and every amphibian-inhabited survey adult, metamorphosed froglets and continent held a meeting in El Valle in tadpole populations in A. zeteki, and egg February 2006 (Zippel et al., 2006) with a masses in streams. PGF used these data to goal to discuss the approach that the eclectic establish Evolutionarily Significant Units assortment of zoos, aquariums, botanical gar- (ESUs) of Panamanian golden frogs, reveal- dens, academic institutions and private indi- ing that the Panamanian golden frog actually viduals could adopt to address ex situ aspects spans two species: A.