Critically endangered “Mountain chicken” frog last haven invaded by deadly Chytrid fungus

17/03/2009 15:25:42

One of the world's largest and most endangered frogs is edging closer to extinction day by day.
March 2009. Experts from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust have flown out to join Montserrat's Forestry Department as their worst fears have been confirmed. A deadly fungal disease, chytrid fungus, that is decimating amphibian populations globally has reached one of the only Caribbean islands to have remained clear of the fungus until now.

Montserrat - last refuge
Montserrat, an island in the Eastern Caribbean, is home to the Critically Endangered mountain chicken (Leptodactylus fallax). This giant frog, once common across six of these islands, can now only be found on Dominica and Montserrat.

In 2002 chytrid fungus hit the Dominican population wiping out the majority of mountain chickens found there. This left the Montserrat population as the only global stronghold for this species in the wild but still very vulnerable to this quick spreading disease.

Dozens of frogs found dead
It is now known that dozens of dead frogs found in forests to the west of the island had contracted the disease and died as a result.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Montserrat
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has been working in Montserrat since the early 1990's to support the Montserrat government protect its biodiversity. The mountain chicken has been an important species and Durrell holds the largest assurance population at its headquarters in Jersey. This latest development brings the need for healthy captive populations sharply into focus, as they would provide the safety net from which numbers could be returned to the wild, at some stage in the future.

Major setback
Prof. John Fa, Director of Science at Durrell said, "We have a major commitment to this species and biodiversity on the island. This is a major setback and, if evidence from other isolated populations is anything to go on, we will have to act very fast indeed to save this species."

Durrell has sent out two of its experts to support the Montserrat Department of Environment to develop bio-security protocols for handling dead or potentially infected animals to avoid the further spread of any disease.

Durrell's Head of Herpetology, Gerardo Garcia and the Trust's Veterinary Department Head, Javier Lopez, have worked with the species for a number of years, both in Jersey and in Montserrat. As well as providing training, they are leading a survey of the island to identify further signs of infection or potential causes for these deaths. Based on their findings, Durrell will work with the Montserrat government on a set of responses to save the species within its native habitat. Dr Garcia has reported being witness to the decimation of one of the largest populations of frogs in Montserrat, fearing it may be the last time he will see this species in the wild.

Critically endangered, the 'Mountain Chicken'. © Gerardo Garcia/Durrell.

Captive breeding
Durrell's Director of Conservation Management, Quentin Bloxam said, "Durrell has managed and bred a population of mountain chickens since 1999, at its headquarters in Jersey. Now chytrid fungus has spread to Montserrat, these precious captive populations will play a crucial part in protecting this species from extinction."

The Montserrat government has issued a warning to stay out of the affected area in the Centre Hills for the next month, to avoid spreading whatever has killed these frogs. They have also asked people to report sightings of any dead or sick mountain chickens, but not to touch or approach them. The disease does not affect humans.

Invasive species and erupting volcanoes
The mountain chicken is also threatened by a high volume of invasive species to the island such as rats, as well as the affects of Montserrat's active volcano that erupted in 1995 causing widespread devastation. This large frog is also hunted for food, giving rise to its unusual name as it's said to taste like chicken.

Montserrat is an overseas territory of the UK and Durrell is currently running a project to support the Montserratian government produce a series of Action Plans for key species, one of which is the mountain chicken, and also develop capacity to implement the main actions. This project is being supported by the Overseas Territory Environment Programme, a joint programme of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.