Critically Endangered Frogs Born at London Zoo

The arrival of the Afia Birago's puddle frog at ZSL London Zoo marks a significant success for conservation efforts aimed at a critically endangered species. These frogs, which are small enough to sit on a fingertip and weigh less than 1.75 grams when fully grown, were bred for the first time at the central London zoo.

ZSL has indicated that no other zoo or institution is currently known to be housing the species. The frog was only identified by scientists in 2018. When they arrived at the zoo, keepers had limited information about their needs, but have since developed successful breeding techniques.

These techniques are now being shared with the CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana's breeding centre in Kumasi, with the ultimate goal of establishing a population in Ghana that can eventually be released into the wild.

The species was named Afia Birago's puddle frog by Ghanaian conservationist Caleb Ofori-Boateng, who helped in its identification. He named the frog after his mother to ensure her legacy would continue through the species' survival.

This breeding achievement follows ZSL's earlier success in November with the Atewa slippery frog, another critically endangered species from the same Ghanaian forest that had never been bred in captivity before.