Species

Telmatobius dankoi

Common Name(s)

Region where program is based

South America

Country where program is based

Chile

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?

Name of the institution managing the ex situ population

Parque Metropolitano de Santiago/Parquemet National Zoo

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?

No

Is sufficient space available for the required population size?

Yes

Additional Support required

Support for the recruitment of animal keepers

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

Yes

Taxon Management Coordinator

Alejandra Montalba Zalaquett of Parque Metropolitano de Santiago/Parquemet National 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?

In preparation

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

Information about individual and group-level behaviors, reproductive behaviors. Information on morphology and reproductive stages. Information about care and well-being under human care. More detailed information on water quality tolerated by the species.

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).

No

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

No

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?

No

Have the first generation captive-bred animals bred successfully?

Limited

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?

No

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

No

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

2021: A species management plan is currently in preparation by the participating entities, as part of the Plan of Recovery, Conservation and Species Management (PLAN RECOGE) for Telmatobius, coordinated by the Ministry of Environment of Chile. 2019: The last known 14 frogs were evacuated from a swiftly vanishing stream in northern Chile. 14 individuals that were transported to the ex situ Amphibian Conservation Center of the National Zoo of Chile in Santiago on the 3rd of August. This was done with the aim to set up a captive colony, thus assuring the persistence of the species, and if successful, designing a reintroduction plan in the future. At the same time, in situ conservation actions are undertaken to restore and protect the original habitat of T. dankoi, involving authorities, the local community, the academia, the mining sector and other relevant stakeholders.