Tantauco taskforce
The Tantauco Taskforce project is a national and international conservation network implementing a holistic conservation initiative with both in-situ and ex-situ actions. As part of this project, in 2024, we led the rescue of 53 Darwin’s frogs from Tantauco Park in Chiloé. These frogs were transported to the non-profit organisation ZSL (Zoological Society of London) to protect them, study chytridiomycosis, and preserve their genetic diversity.
ZSL has specialised facilities that replicate the Chilean habitat, providing optimal conditions for the frogs to thrive and reproduce. Their offspring will eventually be reintroduced into Tantauco Park to support the repopulation of their natural environment. This collaborative effort highlights the power of science and global cooperation in combating the extinction of wildlife species.
Crisis in Parque Tantauco
The Tantauco Park, located on the Isla Grande de Chiloé, was home to the largest known populations of Darwin's Frog, an endangered species found exclusively in Chile and Argentina. In 2023, the arrival of the fungus responsible for chytridiomycosis in this protected area marked a turning point: in just one year, the disease killed more than 1,300 individuals, devastating local populations of this unique species worldwide.
An Alliance for Conservation
Faced with the emergency, a group of organisations, led by the Darwin's Frog NGO, formed a national and international collaborative network to implement this crucial project. Our primary objective: to rescue Darwin's Frog, combat chytridiomycosis, and preserve the genetic biodiversity of the species.
Alianza rescate tantauco
.png)
Proyecto financiado por:
First Steps: A Captive Breeding Network
The first urgent measure was to create a network of captive breeding centres. This included the transfer of a group of frogs to ZSL (United Kingdom), where a research programme was established to combat the disease. According to Dr. Andrés Valenzuela Sánchez, president of the NGO Ranita de Darwin and researcher at ZSL: "The frogs are highly susceptible to chytridiomycosis. Without intervention, entire populations can disappear within weeks."
In Chile, we are collaborating with the ex situ breeding centre for Darwin's frogs at the University of Concepción and Zoo Leipzig in a second rescue effort to contribute to this conservation network.
A unique animal and its challenges.
The Darwin's frog is the only amphibian in the world where the male carries the tadpoles in his vocal sac and faces threats such as the loss of native forests, climate change, and chytridiomycosis, a global pandemic that is wiping out amphibians worldwide.
Global Research and Conservation
The transfer of 53 Darwin's Frogs to ZSL was a logistical and scientific achievement. With the support of 51 people from 9 institutions, this effort involved non-stop work to ensure effective results in relocating the frogs to the United Kingdom. Thanks to the commitment of an international team, all frogs survived their 13,000 km journey. They now live in specialized facilities that recreate the conditions of the Chilean forest. Their offspring will be key for future repopulation efforts in the Tantauco Park.
Looking to the future
The integration of research and conservation, both in captivity and in the wild, is the hope for the recovery of Darwin's frog. From the Zoological Society of London to the ex situ breeding centre in Concepción and the Tantauco Park in Chiloé, this global effort seeks to ensure that this unique species thrives once again in its ancient native forests.
On our website, you can find a downloadable infographic and blogs related to this project. If you have any questions, inquiries, or comments, feel free to write to us at contacto@ranitadedarwin.org.
