15 Jul The Golden Frog of Panama: Rana Dorada Panameña
By Dorothee Upchurch
When coming to Panama, you will see the Panamanian Golden Frog displayed everywhere you look. When traveling around the country, you will find statues, pictures and souvenirs for sale of the tiny frog. The Rana Dorada is one of the Panamanian national symbols which stands for good luck and fortune. It is also the national animal of Panama. There are many cultural events and festivals that actually celebrate this tiny amphibian.
Originally found in the mountains and rainforests of Panama, especially in El Valle de Anton, the bright yellow frog has been believed to be extinct since 2007 and cannot been found in its natural environment. For many decades, deforestation, water pollution and loss of habitat has threatened the lives of the our little yellow friend. Although environmental issues have hurt the Golden Frog, a fungal disease called chytrid fungus, which started in the late 1980’s, wiped out most of the population from Costa Rica to the Darien province within a few years. At a rate of 43 kilometers per year, the deadly disease spread like a wave through Central America.
The warnings to preserve the frogs from extinction reached the Panamanian government and the officials reacted quickly to collect as many remaining frogs as possible. Although extinct in the wild, the Golden Frog has found new homes in managed care facilities throughout North and Central America to care, study, keeping them alive and most importantly, begin the re-population.
As the most poisonous species of Atelopus (True Toads,) the Golden Frog is barely 3-5 cm, and believe it or not, the males are smaller than the females. Their bright yellow skin has one or more black spots and the bright coloration is a warning to predators that they better stay away. The diet of insects turns the skin into a deadly weapon. According to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute it has enough toxins to kill 1200 mice. In captivity the Golden Frog is safe to handle, after all it’s the insects they eat in the wild that create the toxins. In captivity the frogs are being fed with non-toxic beetles and insects.
Recently, a project has been launched and the first frogs raised by humans have been inserted back into the rainforest of Panama. Ninety Limosa Harlequin Frogs, also highly endangered and sensitive to the chytrid fungus, have been released into the wild. The frogs will be radio transmitter equipped and the Smithsonian Institute as well as the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project teams will be able to monitor their behavior. With the first trial of introducing the frogs back into the wild there might be hope to have one day Golden Frogs back in the mountains of El Valle.
Baby Limosa Harlequin Frog. source
Check out the festivities for GOLDEN FROG DAY on August 13th. There is an ongoing photo contest held by the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project and a celebration at the Summit Zoo in Panama City. Click the link below for more information https://www.facebook.com/events