This species is facing imminent extinction in the wild, yet it was in a healthy state only a couple of decades ago. Its fate sends us a very clear warning about the dangers faced by wildlife on Earth
The mountain chicken frog is the world’s largest sizable frog species. Native to the Caribbean islands, it is a staple in Dominica’s national cuisine. This species has virtually vanished from the island of Dominica.
As per the latest scientific survey, the species once with a thriving population, numbering in hundreds of thousands has dwindled to an alarming 21 frogs. It is believed to be one of the fastest extinctions of a wild animal ever documented.
Andrew Cunningham, head of wildlife epidemiology for the Zoological Society London (ZCL), described the amazing animal to grow around 20 cm in length and weigh more than a kilo.
He further added that both males and females play important roles in raising their young and it was one of Dominica’s top predators that ate insects, small mammals, snakes and other frogs.
The mountain chicken frog’s troubles began with the arrival of a chytrid fungus in the last century. This fungus invades amphibians through their skin, a vital part of their respiration and hydration making it difficult for them to breathe.
The fungus also damages the nervous system, affecting behaviour. Once infected, frogs become sluggish and often perish within a month. The chytrid fungus only attacks the parts of a frog’s skin that have keratin in them.
Tadpoles can be infected around their mouths, but this is not enough to kill them. It’s only when they start turning into frogs, and grow keratin in other areas, that the chytrid fungus can spread throughout their bodies.
While the fungus has caused significant declines in amphibian populations globally, Dominica stands out as a place where its impact has been swift and devastating. Within just 18 months of its first appearance in 2002, this fungal invader wiped out 80 per cent of the mountain chicken frog population on the island.
This species is facing imminent extinction in the wild, yet it was in a healthy state only a couple of decades ago. Its fate sends us a very clear warning about the dangers faced by wildlife on Earth.
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