Biologists have reported the return of the Panamanian golden frog to the wild

The Panamanian golden frog, which has almost disappeared due to a deadly fungal disease, has begun to return to its natural habitat for the first time in 17 years. International scientists and environmental organizations have launched a reintroduction program, which has become a new stage in the struggle for the conservation of rare amphibians. This was reported on February 25 in the journal Popular Science.

The bright yellow Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki) disappeared from the wild in the late 2000s after the spread of the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The pathogen causes the disease chytridiomycosis, which affects the skin of amphibians and disrupts the water-salt balance of the body, which eventually leads to heart failure and death of animals. By 2009, the last populations in the area of El Valle de Anton had completely disappeared.

To prevent the final extinction of the species, biologists within the framework of the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project have been breeding frogs in the laboratory for many years. It was only after the numbers had stabilized that the scientists were able to move on to the next stage — the return of the animals to their natural environment. Reintroduction takes place gradually and is accompanied by serious losses.

The researchers estimate that about 70 of the first 100 released individuals died during the 12-week adaptation period, as the fungus still persists in the ecosystems of Panama. However, the surviving frogs were able to gain a foothold in nature, and the data obtained helps to refine the strategy for further population recovery.

The researchers suggest that the key success factor will be the choice of so—called climatic shelters - territories suitable for amphibians, but unfavorable for the development of the fungus. The analysis of the results has already allowed us to adjust the approaches to the release of animals. The recovery program is showing the first sustained successes.

Previously, scientists had already returned several other amphibian species to their natural environment, which strengthened experts' confidence in the effectiveness of the chosen biodiversity conservation strategy. At the same time, biologists remind that the Panamanian golden frog remains an extremely vulnerable species. In addition, amphibians emit strong natural toxins, so it is recommended to observe them in nature only from a distance.

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