Cocobolo Nature Reserve Monitoring
I’m leaving Saturday for another round of research and monitoring on the endangered Limosa Harlequin Frog (Atelopus limosus) monitoring with Alex Shepack, Michael Roy, and Abel Batista in the wonderful Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Eastern Panama. We’re looking for more clues on the enigmatic behavior of the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus in the area and the mechanisms that allow some local frogs to survive. In addition we’ll be setting up opportunities for student research on the project through the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History and Yale...
Read MoreLimosa Harlequin Frog (Atelopus limosa)
This is what it is all about – being able to see healthy Limosa Harlequin Frogs (Atelopus limosus) in their natural environment and trying to unlock the secrets of this population through our research in Cocobolo Nature Reserve, Panama. Hopefully we can we help to expand the size of this population through careful habitat management and apply the lessons learned elsewhere to allow other populations of this, and some of the many other endangered amphibians in the world to return where they belong: in a healthy environment. Twan Leenders RTPI President
Read MoreAmazon Gladiator Tree Frog (Hypsiboas boans)
An Amazon Gladiator Tree Frog (Hypsiboas boans) returns to its tree top home after being released. I caught it the night before in Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Panama where we are carrying out a research project on the frog-killing chytrid fungus and its effect on local amphibians, including several endangered species. More to come on that soon! Twan Leenders RTPI President
Read MoreNEPARC Annual Meeting
Last week I got the opportunity to attend my first NEPARC (Northeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) annual meeting held at Allegany State Park in Salamanca, New York. For those that aren’t familiar with the not for profit, NEPARC is a regional subset of PARC or Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. This organization forms inclusive partnerships with like-minded professionals and citizens that are dedicated to the conservation of amphibians, reptiles and their respective habitats throughout each region of the United States and beyond. PARC interacts with...
Read MoreBats and White-nose Syndrome
On the day after Halloween as we move closer towards winter I thought it would be appropriate to talk about one of the holiday’s most emblematic creatures – the bat. Some are facing a possible extinction level event due to White-nose Syndrome which is killing several hibernating species in the northeast U.S. and spreading across the country rapidly. Most people know that bats hibernate in caves (thanks Batman), and each hibernaculum can have tens of thousands of bats or more. Even with these high numbers there are mortality rates nearing 100% in some locations! This USFWS graphic...
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