Darwin’s Frogs Saved From Fungal Extinction by London Zoo

Amaze Lab

This is the Southern Darwin Frog, named after the famed scientist. The creatures were first discovered in Chile in 1841, but recently they nearly went extinct after the chytrid fungus wiped out 90% of the species.

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00:00This is the southern Darwin frog, named after the famed scientist.

00:07The creatures were first discovered in Chile in 1841, but recently they nearly went extinct

00:12after the chytrid fungus wiped out 90% of the species.

00:16However, the London Zoo has brought them back from the brink by launching a 7,000-mile rescue

00:21mission to save the frogs from their native habitat.

00:24That involved traveling to Chile and collecting 52 fungus-free specimens.

00:28They were then transported by boat, car, and then plane in climate-controlled containers.

00:32Now conservationists say they have hatched some 33 froglets, which will keep the species

00:37going.

00:38Those frogs will now live on while conservationists attempt to figure out how to save their natural

00:41habitats from the deadly fungus which plagues it.

00:44Still, Darwin frogs are one of many amphibian species affected, with experts saying that

00:49500 have been devastated by it.

00:51However, this conservation program could prove to be the template for future rescue missions,

00:55With the zoology researchers saying about it, these frogs are not only vital for the

00:59future of their species, but also help us better understand how we can combat chytrid

01:03fungus and safeguard other amphibians globally.

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