Frogs are now kept in pairs within dozens of moss -filled glass tanks and with temperatures that mimic their natural habitat
The London Zoo revealed on Monday that 33 endangered Darwin frogs were born in its new home as a result of a rescue mission to save the species from extinction.
These small frogs have had a long trip, making thousands of kilometers from southern Chilean forests to London, having been loaded and shocked within the vocal bags of parents for security, the Associated Press (AP) agency (AP) reported.
Known populations of Darwin frog have been declined by 90% in a year since a deadly disease known as fungus quitroly arrived in 2023 at its habitat, the forests of Park Tantau, in southern Chile.
The fungus affected hundreds of amphibian species around the world.
Creatures have a unique reproductive strategy: After females put eggs, male frogs protect and create small tadpoles inside their vocal bags distensible so that they develop safely.
A team of scientists traveled to Chile’s forests in October looking for healthy and free Darwin frogs free of infectious disease.
They collected 52 frogs, which were placed in air -conditioned boxes for a trip of 11,265 kilometers by boat, car and plane to their new home in London.
From the group, 11 male frogs – each less than 3 centimeters – generated 33 tadpoles that were born in the zoo.
“We knew we were embarking on something special – time was going through and we needed to act quickly if we wanted to save these frogs,” said Ben Taplay, amphibian carrier from the London Zoo.
Taplay stressed that the successful creation of the offspring by parents was a “powerful symbol of hope for the species.”
The frogs are now kept in pairs within dozens of moss -filled glass tanks and with temperatures that mimic their natural habitat.
The keepers said that the zoo will create a reproduction program for these, and any frogs that create can be reintroduced in nature later.
Andres Valenzuela-Sanchez, a ZSL researcher, the conservation charity behind the London Zoo, stated that the project will ensure that the species has a recovery hypothesis.
“These frogs are not only vital to the future of their species, but they also help us understand better how we can fight fungus quitro and protect other amphibians globally,” he said.
