Conserving an Endemic Philippine Amphibian

Initiating species-specific conservation efforts on the ground

Mandai Nature supports Project Palaka as they undertake the first species-specific conservation action for the Gigante Wrinkled Ground Frog. Project Palaka is involved in a ten-year project to develop and establish a sustainable ex situ conservation programme for this amphibian in the Philippines. 

Researchers conduct regular fieldwork on Gigantes Islands to obtain a baseline population count, assess habitats and threats faced by the Gigante Wrinkled Ground Frog. This will help guide future in situ conservation actions.  With better understanding of the species, Project Palaka aims to develop protocols for ex situ amphibian conservation in the Philippines and provide capacity building for aspiring conservationists as well as the local community in Gigantes. 

Growing an assurance colony for species survival

In 2021, Project Palaka successfully surveyed frog populations in the caves and forest habitats of Gigantes islands. They celebrated a major milestone with the establishment of an assurance population at an ex situ facility at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) Museum of Natural History. The founding population of the assurance colony forms the first conservation breeding programme for the species and will serve as an important stepping stone to eventually boosting wild populations.

With human activities being key threats to the species, Project Palaka actively engages various stakeholders including non-governmental organisations, the Philippine government and local community members to collaborate and mitigate the identified threats. They are also aiming to have the Gigantes Islands declared as a Protected Area under Philippine law, which will enable further protection for the species.