The Puerto Rican crested toad, Bufo (Peltophryne) lemur, once
flourished on Puerto Rico and Virgin Gorda. Habitat loss and introduced
species, such as Bufo marinus, are major causes for the toad’s decline
and have led to a listing as Threatened by the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Critically Endangered by the International
Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The
crested toad is the only toad native to Puerto Rico and is easily
distinguished by its unique head crest. It lives in arid to semi-arid
climates in karst limestone formations. In Puerto Rico, toad
populations were once divided into two distinct populations; one in the
north and one in the south. Mitochondrial DNA analyses suggest that
these two populations have been separated for up to 1 million years and
are genetically distinct. Unfortunately, northern toads have not been
seen in the wild since 1988 and biologists consider the population
extirpated. Currently, the only known wild population is the southern
form, which resides in a small pond located within Guanica National
Forest.
In an effort to save this species from extinction, a Species Survival
Plan (SSP) was created through the American Zoo and Aquarium
Association (AZA). The SSP goals include island-wide education and
outreach, research, the protection of existing habitat, the creation of
new ponds, and the establishment of at least five self-sustaining
populations in the wild. A reintroduction program is a large component
of the recovery plan for this species. Each year, captive toads from
zoos and aquariums in the United States and Canada are bred, and
tadpoles are sent to Puerto Rico for release.
SSP members have worked closely with partners in Puerto Rico (USFWS,
Puerto Rican Department of Natural and Ecological Resources (DNER),
University of Puerto Rico, Company of National Parks at Juan Rivero
Zoo, Inciativa Herpetologica, Inc. and Ciudadonos del Karso) for more
than twenty years towards the recovery of this unique species.
|
|
