Species

Platymantis insulatus

Common Name(s)

Region where program is based

South and Southeast Asia

Country where program is based

Philippines

The authority that recommended this species for an ex situ program

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

Project Palaka

Year the program started

2019

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

Yes

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

Long term funding is still a concern, so we are happy to receive information about grants from various sources as they become available.

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

Yes

Taxon Management Coordinator

Norman Greenhawk of Project Palaka

Has a Taxon Management Group or Recovery Team been established?

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

Yes

Web link to Taxon Management Plan

https://www.amphibianark.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Platymantis-insulatus-action-plan.pdf

Have Husbandry Guidelines been written?

In preparation

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?

No

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

Yes

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

No

If sufficient founders have not been collected, is there an ongoing search for additional founders?

Yes

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

Yes

What tools are used to maximize retention of genetic diversity?

None

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?

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?

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

No

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

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

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

February 2022. A further 52 animals were collected from the wild for the captive population. 2021 Species is not yet secure in the wild. To date, no conservation activities for the species have taken place. We are planning to implement a population monitoring program to coincide with our captive breeding efforts. We appreciate Amphibian Ark’s continued support of our project, even through the difficulties we have had due to COVID, funding, and local permitting processes. We are excited that the project is finally moving forward. The facilities at the University of the Philippines, Los Banos are being renovated to ensure the safety and biosecurity of our future P. insulatus colony. We have gained additional partners, including Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Asian Species Action Partnership, Synchronicity Earth, and Stiftung Artenschutz.