Rewilding Chile, Universidad Andrés Bello and ONG Ranita de Darwin join forces to protect Patagonia's amphibians
- Aug 3
- 2 min read
Source RewildingChile.org
Fundación Rewilding Chile (FRC), Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB) and ONG Ranita de Darwin have signed a collaboration agreement aimed at conserving Patagonian amphibians, with a particular focus on Darwin's frog, one of Chile's most threatened species, found in the south-central zone of Chile and in Argentina.
In addition to the harmful effects of climate change, the tiny amphibian – first recorded by Charles Darwin almost 200 years ago – faces habitat loss and fragmentation, wildfires and chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease that attacks its permeable skin and compromises its vital functions.
“The agreement expands on the work Fundación Rewilding Chile has carried out in Pumalín Douglas Tompkins and Corcovado national parks through an amphibian characterisation and ecological monitoring programme, as it brings together UNAB's scientific and academic capabilities with ONG Ranita de Darwin's experience as a leading authority on the study and conservation of the country's amphibians,” said Carolina Morgado, Executive Director of Rewilding Chile.
Claudio Azat, Director of Universidad Andrés Bello's One Health Institute, highlighted the features that make Darwin's frog so special: "It is the only amphibian in the world, out of more than 9,000 species, in which the male becomes pregnant, a process that lasts at least two months. Metamorphosis takes place inside the father's vocal sac, after which he expels the tadpoles, which are independent and live in the forest, such as the Valdivian rainforest. This amphibian is tremendously important for Chile, Argentina and the world, and that's why we're keen to study it and gather evidence so we can take the best possible measures for its conservation."
"At ONG Ranita de Darwin, we bring our technical expertise to this agreement, specifically our expertise in designing and implementing long-term amphibian monitoring programmes, and this is combined with the experience of these two other institutions to represent a collaborative model that will enable us to make progress in conserving our biodiversity," said Andrés Valenzuela, President of ONG Ranita de Darwin and researcher at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), England.
The agreement provides for research and monitoring campaigns on amphibians in the national parks of the Route of Parks; the exchange of technical and scientific information; the delivery of training sessions; the use of innovative technological tools for studying populations and habitats, among other actions.
The institutions also plan to develop actions in line with the Binational Strategy for the Conservation of Darwin's Frogs and the RECOGE Plan for Darwin's Frogs.
Thank you for reading Rewilding Chile, Universidad Andrés Bello and ONG Ranita de Darwin join forces to protect Patagonia's amphibians
You can become part of our NGO through the "Adopt a Darwin's Frog" donation programme. Become a Guardian of a Darwin's Frog at https://www.ranitadedarwin.org/adoptayunete
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