It is not surprising that wildlife in Haiti is in critical condition and amphibian populations are no exception. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are a true biodiversity hotspot. Massif the La Hotte, (see image below) which forms part of the Macaya national Park in Western Haiti, is a world-renowned biodiversity hotspot. This mountain range is home to more than 40 threatened mammals, birds, reptiles, plants and amphibians, the vast majority of which are endemic to Haiti and all of which are endemic to the Island. Thirteen of these species are critically endangered amphibians, all endemic to Haiti. There is no other place in the world with so many endemic amphibians in one place and certainly no place with as many endangered amphibians.
Earlier this year, the Zoo joined an international team of conservation organizations and academic institutions, such as Conservation International and Penn State, to help Haiti’s only local environmental organization, Societé Audubon Haiti, establish a sound, long-term conservation strategy for the country. This strategy tackles the root of the conservation issue in Haiti, which is rampant deforestation. While Societé Audubon Haiti works with villagers living inside and near the Macaya National Park and with government officials to eliminate illegal logging for charcoal while supporting the rural economy and protecting any remaining forest, the Philadelphia Zoo has begun efforts to save ten of the world’s most critically endangered amphibians (four seen below) though ex-situ captive breeding here at the Zoo. Today, we hold 154 live specimens of these ten amphibians and we will breed these frogs to establish assurance colonies of seven of them, with the hopes of reintroducing them back to their native range. We also plan to employ local villagers in data gathering exercises. These activities not only help us gain a better understanding of the amphibian populations, they also provide an alternative to logging for the villagers. The creation of an in-range breeding center and a tree nursery in the country are also under consideration. Our plan is very ambitious, but has all the ingredients for success.
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Pic Macaya National Park holds an impressive array of endemic plants and animals found only here. Thirteen frogs, like Mozart’s frog, the ventriloquist frog, La Hotte frog and the blue-eyed glanded frog are found nowhere else. Unfortunately, the little habitat left here is projected to disappear in ten years if no action is taken.
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