Latest news with #ALeapofHope
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Wildlife experts take urgent action after endangered species nears total collapse: 'Situation was really, really bad'
London-based conservationists are working to restore a vulnerable colony of endangered Darwin's frogs from halfway around the world. Launching an emergency rescue mission in a remote Chilean national park, the conservationists recently rescued 53 adult frogs from a deadly fungus plaguing the colony's native habitat. In October 2024, researchers from the Zoological Society of London rescued the frogs from Tantauco Park located on the south end of Chiloé Island in southern Chile. That's because the park is home to a deadly fungal infection called chytridiomycosis — or chytrid — fungus. YaleEnvironment360 explains that chytrid fungus causes a deadly infection that suppresses a frog's immune response. It first attacks the amphibian's skin, an essential barrier in frogs that aids respiration and supports overall health. As the infectious disease progresses, the frog's motor functions fail and it struggles to breathe. Eventually, the frog dies from a heart attack. Darwin's frogs are highly susceptible to the deadly fungus and often die within mere weeks of infection. According to The Guardian, chytrid fungus has been a problem worldwide for the last three decades, killing off at least 90 species and endangering hundreds more. Experts call it "the most devastating infectious animal disease ever documented." The Guardian reported that recent conservation monitoring found a 90% decline in the Darwin's frog population at Tantauco Park because of the fungus. "We realized the situation was really, really bad," Dr. Andrés Valenzuela-Sánchez, a research fellow at the Zoological Society of London, told The Guardian. "We rapidly decided we needed to do something, We needed to do an emergency rescue." A documentary titled "A Leap of Hope" captures a portion of the team's delicate and difficult rescue. Not only were the frogs on a remote island filled with camouflaging lush vegetation, but the species is incredibly tiny. Darwin's frogs are under 3 centimeters long and weigh just .07 ounces, per London Zoo. Of the 55 frogs collected from the national park, two were infected with chytrid fungus. The remaining 53 frogs were sent on an 8,000-mile journey by plane, boat, and van to London. There, the frogs settled in a London Zoo habitat that replicated their natural environment with seasonable temperatures, regular rainfall, appropriate lighting, and familiar foliage. Now settled in the enclosure, 11 rescued males have released 33 young froglets into the habitat, starting a new generation of healthy frogs. Male Darwin's frogs hold young tadpoles in their vocal sacs for brooding, releasing the young frogs out of their mouth once developed. The conservationists call this new generation a "huge milestone" in their overall mission. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "We have the founders, the first adults, and now we have this first generation of offspring born at the zoo," Valenzuela-Sánchez told The Guardian. Researchers aim to breed the frogs further to help boost their population while exploring treatments and conservation options for chytrid fungus. The fungus appears to thrive in conditions caused by unstable global temperatures, though studies conflict on why. Some studies found that climate shifts like extreme heat and drought may weaken Darwin's frogs' immune systems, making the species more vulnerable to infection. Others have found that heat could be an antidote for deadly fungus, proposing so-called "frog saunas" — small brick structures covered by miniature greenhouses and placed in the sun — that could help infected frogs clear the infection. With further research and understanding, conservationists hope to develop treatments for chytrid fungus and eventually return the frogs to their native habitat. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Frogs rescued from a deadly fungus welcome 33 froglets
Following a 7,000-mile-long rescue mission for conservation, 33 tiny Southern Darwin's frogs (Rhinoderma darwinii) were born at London Zoo. This species is particularly susceptible to the deadly chytrid fungus, currently impacting their native habitat in the forests and glades of Argentina and Chile. In October 2024, conservationists from the Zoological Society of London traveled to a remote part of an island off the coast of Chile. Their mission was to retrieve healthy frogs for safeguarding at the London Zoo. Populations of this species found in the Parque Tantauco forests in southern Chile faced devastation in 2023 with the arrival of chytrid fungus. About 90 percent of monitored populations died within a year due to amphibian chytridiomycosis. This fungal disease affects at least 500 amphibian species and is considered among the most devastating infectious diseases. According to the University of California, Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research, it infects amphibians by latching onto the keratin in the mouthparts of tadpoles and skin of adults. The growth of the fungus eventually causes the skin to slough off and amphibians to lose weight, become lethargic and die. Outbreaks have been reported in parts of Australia, Central and North America, Europe, and Asia since it was first documented in the late 1990s. 'By working with partners in Chile, we're able to safeguard these frogs in their new home at London Zoo, ensuring that this unique species has a fighting chance of recovery,' Andres Valenzuela-Sanchez, ZSL's Institute of Zoology research fellow, said in a statement. 'These frogs are not only vital for the future of their species but also help us better understand how we can combat chytrid fungus and safeguard other amphibians globally.' Naturalist Charles Darwin described this tiny, green frog species in 1834, during his voyage on the HMS Beagle. As adults, they weigh less than an ounce and are only about an inch long. They primarily survive on insects and small arthropods. Southern Darwin's frogs are known for a unique brooding strategy to protect and rear their tiny tadpoles. The males carry the tadpoles in vocal sacs. Along with seahorses, the frogs are among the few living vertebrates in which dads carry babies in special sacks that make them appear pregnant. The 33 new froglets were carried and brooded by 11 rescued male frogs. The adult frogs were transported 7,000 miles from Chile to England, while protecting their precious tadpoles until they metamorphosed into froglets. The team hopes that these new froglets will help the population of Southern Darwin's frogs grow. The group's efforts are also chronicled in a documentary by wildlife filmmaker Paul Glynn called A Leap of Hope. [ Related: Fungus-infected zombie spiders discovered in Northern Ireland. ] 'Documenting this journey and the discovery of these incredible frogs has been such a rewarding experience,' Ranita de Darwin NGO conservationist Bastián Santana said in a statement. The film captures not only the urgency of conservation work–acting quickly to save the world's most vulnerable species–but it's a crucial tool to raise awareness of threats amphibians currently face in the wild. It's a story of action and resilience that we hope will inspire others to support amphibian conservation.' You can watch A Leap of Hope on YouTube.
