Species

Nectophrynoides asperginis

Common Name(s)

Kihansi Spray Toad

Region where program is based

North America

Country where program is based

United States

The authority that recommended this species for an ex situ program

Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism

Has a genetic analysis been performed on wild populations to define the target taxon, i.e., verify that single, viable Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU's) that are managed as separate populations, are not confounded by cryptic species or polymorphisms?

Yes

Name of the institution managing the ex situ population

AZA institutions

Year the program started

2000

Is at least some portion of the captive population maintained in range country?

No

Are sufficient resources available to manage the ex situ population?

Yes

Are adequate numbers of skilled staff available with the appropriate ex situ amphibian experience?

Yes

Is sufficient space available for the required population size?

Yes

Additional Support required

Has a Taxon Management Coordinator for the ex situ population been appointed?

Yes

Taxon Management Coordinator

John Chastain of Toledo Zoo

Has a Taxon Management Group or Recovery Team been established?

Yes

Has a Taxon Management Plan, Recovery Plan or Species Action Statement been written?

Web link to Taxon Management Plan

Have Husbandry Guidelines been written?

Web link to Husbandry Management Guidelines

Have any knowledge gaps in the species biology or in their interaction with potential threats been identified that could benefit from research using the ex situ population?

Have founder needs been calculated using the AArk Amphibian Population Management Guidelines ?

No

Have sufficient potential founders been collected? ( AArk Amphibian Population Management Guidelines recommends a minimum of 20 pairs of found animals).

Yes

Is the ex situ population managed by nationals from the range country?

No

What tools are used to maximize retention of genetic diversity?

Has the population produced viable offspring?

Yes

Have the first generation captive-bred animals bred successfully?

Yes

Is the ex situ population housed in permanent isolation from other populations occurring outside its range?

No -> Yes

Is work being supported to study and mitigate threats to the species in the wild, either by the institution or by a regional wildlife agency?

Yes

Have captive-bred or captive-reared animals been released into the wild?

Yes

If releases were undertaken, have disease screening protocols or veterinary health checks been conducted prior to releases to the wild?

Yes

Is follow-up work being carried out to monitor progress of the released animals?

Yes

Is the taxon again secure in the wild, even if it might still require some ongoing in situ management? i.e. has the need for a captive assurance population been obviated such that we can call this a successfully terminated captive rescue program?

No

Comments

2020: John Chastain is now the program manager at Toledo Zoo. 2016: The first batch of 892 spray toads from Toledo Zoo was reintroduced in the Kihansi Gorge on 28th October 2016. A second batch of 100 toads and third batch of 969 toads from Bronx zoo were introduced in cage 2 in the USW on 19th November 2016 and 11th December 2016, respectively. 2011: In Tanzania, captive breeding facility was established in August 2010, with 100 toads from the Toledo and Bronx Zoos in USA. The Kihansi captive breeding facility (KCBF) was established in June 2011.The second colony of 200 KSTs from USA arrived in February 2011 to top up the breeding colony brought in 2010 but this second batch was purposely for experimental purposes. The third batch of 500 toads came in May 2012 and was distributed to both facilities (UDSM and Kihansi) for captive breeding and was also for experimental purposes.