Species

Telmatobius culeus

Common Name(s)

Titicaca Water Frog

Region where program is based

South America

Country where program is based

Bolivia, Plurinational State of

The authority that recommended this species for an ex situ program

Conservation Needs Assessment Workshop, Unknown (TBD)

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

Centro K’ayra de Investigación y Conservación Anfibios Amenazados de Bolivia (Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d'Orbigny)

Year the program started

2008

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

Yes

Are sufficient resources available to manage the ex situ population?

No

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

No

Is sufficient space available for the required population size?

Yes

Additional Support required

Support for staff. Improvements and maintenance of infrastructure (biosecurity and cooling systems), expansion of the animal house for food, training.

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

Yes

Taxon Management Coordinator

Teresa Camacho Badani of Centro K’ayra de Investigación y Conservación Anfibios Amenazados de Bolivia (Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d'Orbigny)

Has a Taxon Management Group or Recovery Team been established?

No

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

Yes

Web link to Taxon Management Plan

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?

Yes

List of knowledge gaps

Taxonomic identity, natural history, distribution, population studies, traffic monitoring. Bycatch, ecotoxicological studies.

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?

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?

No

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

The first time there was a laying was in 2012. Currently individuals from 3 locations have been bred. There are adults, juveniles and larvae from different locations.