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Hope Calls for the Golden Mantella

The results

The results of the paper state: “The playback experiment showed that captive M. aurantiaca do recognise and respond to calls from wild M. aurantiaca. Wild vocalisations created a significant increase in movement and social behaviours from captive frogs, whereas calls from captive populations did not lead to such an increase in these behaviour patterns.”

There are plans being laid out to launch a collection program for the golden mantella which will be regulated by law. It has not yet been confirmed that over-collection has threatened the species, but it is a wise intention to put these regulations in place before it can become an issue.

On the surface, these results paint an optimistic picture for the reintroduction of captive golden mantellas into wild populations. They suggest that captive females will actively respond to wild males, but further research is required to understand whether this could work in reverse. Gerardo Garcia, Researcher and Curator of Lower Vertebrates and Invertebrates at Chester Zoo told Exotics Keeper Magazine: “We don’t know how much impact it could have if you introduce wild populations to captive bred colonies. Would the captive bred males be less successful to find partners than the female ones? We really don’t know. This study opens the door to not being complacent when considering future conservation translocations with amphibians. Healthy animals aren’t enough, and we need to continue to explore more about the complex biology of this taxa. The more we study the more we realise how much has to be considered to keep healthy colonies (in all aspects).”

Overall, the results of the study do appear to bring a fresh wave of hope for a species which is in dire need. Despite being far from conclusive, it proves that the natural breeding behaviours of female M. aurantiaca have been preserved. With further research and a bit of luck, the likelihood of a greater relationship between private keepers and global conservationists may begin to grow.

The name aurantiacus comes from the Latin meaning for gold. French herpetologist François Maoquard described this species based on the observation of one male specimen in 1900.

The golden mantella is occasionally seen in the pet trade and kept in captivity by exotic animal collectors and zoological institutions. They are popular due to their diurnal activity, attractive coloration and relative ease to keep when settled in. Care sheets are easily found for this species.

In the field

Madagascar is home to around 300 species of frogs, 99% of which are endemic to the island. With such rich biodiversity, new species continue to be discovered in Madagascar regularly. However, developing infrastructure and mining are posing a huge threat to many species before they are even described to science. Gerardo expanded on the grave situation in Madagascar, stating: “The major threat for Golden mantella in Madagascar is habitat alteration, modification and destruction. This is the point that we must protect their last populations and support the local communities in the Mangabe region. The most direct way to protect the species is directly support the great NGO in Madagascar, Madagasikara Voakajy. This organisation is completely managed by Malagasy conservationists and is the only one protecting the species in situ and working with the local communities to protect one of the most important areas for the species.”

Launched in 2011, the Amphibian Survival Assurance Centre is Madagascar’s first biosecure facility to protect amphibians from extinction. As well as researching and reintroducing species into suitable breeding locations, the centre develops precise husbandry research for captive populations. Since chytrid fungus Bd arrived in Madagascar, the need to develop a fall-back plan to ensure the survival of endangered species in captivity grew.

Speaking on mantellas in captivity, Gerardo added: “It is important to mimic the environmental parameters of their microhabitat. It is very difficult to collect this particular information and that is why we must continue building the capacity of herpetologists in Madagascar. There is a great generation of Malagasy herpetologists with great skills and passion for working in the field. In the case of Mantella aurantiaca, after years of data collection we now have a complete description of the microhabitat requirements for the species and other parallel studies like feeding ecology.”