Species

Hyperolius pickersgilli

Common Name(s)

Pickersgill's Reed Frog

Region where program is based

Sub-Saharan Africa

Country where program is based

South Africa

The authority that recommended this species for an ex situ program

Conservation Needs Assessment Workshop

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

Johannesburg Zoo

Year the program started

2012

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

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

Yes

Taxon Management Coordinator

Ian Duplessis of Johannesburg 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?

Yes

Web link to Taxon Management Plan

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325441597_Gazetted_Biodiversity_Management_Plan_for_Pickersgill%27s_Reed_Frog_for_Implementation

Have Husbandry Guidelines been written?

Yes

Web link to Husbandry Management Guidelines

https://www.amphibianark.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Hyperolius-pickergilli-Husbandry-manual-2022.pdf

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?

Yes

List of knowledge gaps

Breeding cycles, breeding timeframes, development systems. Breeding mate identification, post release adaptations, pre-release preparation.

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

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?

Yes

What tools are used to maximize retention of genetic diversity?

Others

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?

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?

Yes

Comments

July 2021: Another 400 Pickersgill’s Reed Frogs have been released into the wetlands of KwaZulu-Natal’s north and south coasts. January 2021: Detailed manual of the ex situ husbandry of this species was drafted based on finding recorded in the Zoo. A total of 70 breeders were collected between 2017 and 2020 with a total release of 772 and 50 specimens still at the zoo for the next generation. This project is now a national collective effort from the JHB Zoo as the breeding, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife –provincial conservation department as the national coordinator and in-situ monitoring, SANBI for all disease risk testing and management and EWT as the assisting party for in-situ habitat management as well as the national department of environment and the BMP holder supported with various other departments. November 2020: An additional 400 captive-bred frogs were released in the Kwa-Zulu Natal wetlands. To date, 372 individuals have already been released, and are subject to post-release monitoring. September 2018: 200 frogs were introduced at two locations from where their parents, a starter group of 20 frogs, originated. The frogs were placed on reeds at Mount Moreland, near Durban. With funds provided by the Department of Environmental Affairs, EWT implemented programs to rehabilitate the wetland areas which form the habitats for the frogs. This has included the removal of alien vegetation. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the Endangered Wildlife Trust have also taken on the role of monitoring the 200 frogs after their release and will collect scientific data.