Decline In The Population Of Mountain Chicken Frog in Dominica Tagged As The Fastest Eradication Of Wild Animal

(Photo : Getty Images/GALO PAGUAY)

Experts have tagged the decline in the population of mountain chicken frogs in Dominica as one of the "fastest eradications of a wild animal ever recorded."

For decades, it was regarded as a delicacy, sought after, and enjoyed for its chicken-like flavor.

It was considered Dominica's national dish, is part of the island's coat of arms, and is used as a logo by numerous extremely prominent Dominican institutions, including the National Bank of Dominica.

Threats to the species

Mountain chicken frogs were originally prevalent on seven Caribbean islands but are now only found on the island of Dominica.

A global network of scientists has been conducting studies on the highly endangered frog for the past 20 years in order to avert its extinction.

A recent survey concluded that only 21 frogs remain on the island.

The sudden and catastrophic drop has shocked researchers, who believe it is one of the "fastest extinctions" of a wild animal ever reported.

According to a recent assessment, their numbers in the wild have decreased to concerning levels, and challenges such as infectious disease, habitat loss, climate change, and pollution continue to endanger the species' existence.

The fast fall of mountain chickens began in 2002, when a lethal fungal disease known as Amphibian Chytrid arrived on the island.

The sickness took out at least 80% of the population in 18 months, and the creature, whose croaks could be heard in the distance, many regions of Dominica were on the verge of extinction, prompting the Dominican government to prohibit frog hunting.

"This is a species facing imminent extinction in the wild, yet it was in a healthy state only a couple of decades ago. Its fate sends us a very clear warning about the dangers facing wildlife on Earth today," Andrew Cunningham, head of wildlife epidemiology for the Zoological Society London (ZSL).

Other natural calamities, such as Hurricane Maria, have also had an impact.

Hope for the population

Professor Cunningham believes that there is still hope for the mountain chicken despite its obstacles.

Scientists reported that one of the frogs detected in the study had already been tagged and was proven to be the oldest living wild mountain chicken frog.

At 11 years old, this tough frog has survived the chytrid epidemic that killed so many of its relatives, demonstrating that some frogs are more resistant to the disease than others.

"If this individual can persist in the face of endless challenges, it gives us hope for the future of the species more widely," Prof Cunningham said.

Researchers are currently swabbing the remaining frogs' mouths to establish their genetic make-up and look for evidence of tolerance to the fatal infection.

Conservationists all over the world are urging immediate action to conserve the critically endangered mountain chicken frog.

Cunningham describes the situation as a "tight scenario," as experts have a few years left before the mountain chicken frog goes extinct.