A critically endangered frog species that hasn’t been seen in the wild for nearly two decades is getting a lifeline in Tampa Bay.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park announced the successful hatching of several Panamanian golden frogs. The species has been considered extinct in the wild since 2009, following a devastating combination of habitat destruction and the rapid spread of the deadly chytrid fungus.
Once recognized as a national symbol of Panama, the small amphibians are famous for their vibrant yellow skin and a distinct waving behavior they use to communicate with one another over the sound of rushing streams. Today, their entire survival relies entirely on managed breeding programs.
The new hatchlings are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. This initiative focuses on building healthy assurance populations to prevent total extinction while researchers map out a safe way to return the animals to their native ecosystem.
“Every hatching of this critically endangered species is meaningful because it represents hope for the future of Panamanian golden frogs,” said Dan Costell, Curator of Herpetology at ZooTampa at Lowry Park.
Specialists at the zoo are currently monitoring the young frogs under strict environmental conditions to ensure their development.
The successful hatching coincides with recent progress on the ground in Central America. Earlier this year, conservation teams in Panama released a group of captive-bred golden frogs into protected, semi-wild habitats to study how the species adapts before attempting a full-scale reintroduction.
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