PANAMANIAN GOLDEN FROG
PANAMANIAN GOLDEN FROG
Image by Critter Files
DID YOU KNOW?
The skin of just one Panamanian Golden Frog is so toxic that it can kill can kill 1200 mice!
The Panamanian Golden Frog is known for its bright golden yellow color and small size: (about as big as a silver dollar)! It has large black spots on its back. The species is a native of the rainforests in Panama and is now believed to be extinct in the wild. It is an insectivore which means that mostly feeds on insects, along with the occasional small invertebrate. In the wild, this frog gets it toxicity from the wild insects it eats.
CURRENT STATUS:
The species is currently listed as being critically endangered.
CHALLENGES:
Habitat loss, pollution from agricultural chemicals, and over-collecting the frog as a pet pose as the main threats to this species’ existence. Panama considers this frog to be culturally significant and honors it as an emblem of biodiversity. This ecological symbol is at risk of being lost permanently.
Panamanian Golden Frog
Even though it is believed to be extinct in the wild, there are several projects and organizations working to conserve the species. Project Golden Frog is one of the most prominent ones and is a collaboration involving zoos, universities and government agencies. It was created to prevent extinction through population and habitat assessment and create captive breeding programs and education initiatives . They also strive to protect its natural habitat. With an education and research based approach, they provide training opportunities for US and Panamanian Students along with classroom curriculum. This project managed to establish the largest home for this species in The Maryland Zoo.
Project Golden Frog has been successful in building a colony of Golden Frogs at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. Project Golden Frog encourages people to get involved through donations and education.
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