Endangered male frogs of the Southern Darwin‘s species play an exceptional role in reproduction, displaying a unique form of parental care. Inside their fathers’ vocal sacs, tadpoles grow until they emerge as fully grown froglets through their lips. The birth of 33 little froglets at the London Zoo recently marked a major milestone in a conservation attempt to save the species from a fatal fungal disease. This hatching success is a significant milestone since these frogs, which Charles Darwin first discovered in 1834, are currently endangered due to environmental challenges. Maintaining a colony in captivity offers protection while efforts continue to restore its natural environment.

A Race Against a Deadly Disease

A fungal illness that has affected more than 500 amphibian species globally, amphibian chytridiomycosis poses a severe threat to Southern Darwin’s frogs. In 2023, the disease was identified in the southern Chilean woodlands of Parque Tantauco, where frog populations under observation fell by 90% in a single year.

Last October, conservationists at the London Zoo picked out a group free of chytrids because they realized how urgently they needed to intervene. Due to their small size and ability to blend in with their mossy surroundings, the frogs made the search very challenging. It was difficult but vital to capture and relocate them to keep them from going extinct while scientists tried to reduce the disease’s impact on their natural habitats.

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An Extraordinary 7,000-Mile Journey

The endangered male frogs made the difficult trek from their isolated island home off the coast of Chile to London to preserve the species. They had to undergo a six-hour boat voyage, a 15-hour drive to Santiago, and then a long-haul flight to Heathrow while being transported in specially made, climate-controlled crates. Carrying their growing tadpoles through the strain of travel, the male frogs enabled them to transform into froglets upon arrival. In the hopes that the new population will support reintroduction efforts in Chile, conservationists at the London Zoo see this as a significant accomplishment in the preservation of the species. Experts stress how crucial these programs are to the global fight against chytrid fungus and amphibian protection.

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