The hills of Montserrat will remain silent for the near future as scientists continue their efforts to save the island’s beloved Mountain Chicken (Leptodactylus fallax).
Since the mid-2000s, the frog’s populations in Dominica and Montserrat have been decimated by the Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) fungus, which is a member of the chytridiomycosis (chytrid) group.
Chytrid fungus is present in water and feeds on decaying organic matter, however, Bd is the only member of the group that is known to feed on living vertebrates. Frogs become infected with the fungus when they come into contact with contaminated water or mud.
The fungus attacks keratin in the frog’s skin and affects their ability to hydrate and absorb nutrients.
The spread of chytrid is the latest threat to the Mountain Chicken’s existence since their range has been reduced to the two islands.
Dominica and Montserrat are a few years in a two-decade process to save the Mountain Chicken, which has not been seen in the wild since 2016.
“The first achievement was securing a captive safety-net population of mountain chickens to ensure they are not lost forever. This involved sending 50 of the last remaining animals, during the original decline, to Europe. They have successfully bred, securing the future of the species, in the short to medium-term,” Montserrat’s Minister of Agriculture, Crenston Buffonge said.
“After this, our focus has been on research to try to understand how best to conserve the species in the wild. We have had one PhD focussed on the species on Montserrat, and another currently working on Dominica.”
He stated the international team of researchers are re-introducing mountain chickens into a semi-wild enclosure where they can manipulate the environment and allow the frogs to survive in the wild.
The fungus is present across Montserrat and Buffonge noted that it still “thrives in the tree frogs and cane toads.”
In July 2019, officials released a few frogs into the safe haven area. Through breeding, the animal’s numbers have increased from zero to 27.
It was also the first time since 2016 that scientists have sighted the frogs’ foam nests giving them hope that the animals are comfortable and willing to reproduce in the area.
Buffonge said: “We are still in the process of working through the peak season (cool/dry season) for the fungus. But we are hopeful from the results we have seen so far, and the initiatives we have in place to monitor and manage the safe haven facility, that we will be able to manage the impact of the fungus on the population.”
The minister identified funding as a major hurdle for the project as he explained most of the money needed is received through grants and donations.
He stated: “At present National Geographic and Taronga Zoo grants provide some of our funding. Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust currently has two grants submitted, in partnership with the Department of Environment (DoE), Montserrat’s National Trust and the Department of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, which we hope will provide funding for the project.”
“This is an ongoing challenge and applying for this funding requires a great deal of effort, but Durrell is very committed to this species and Montserrat.”
A generation of young Montserratians is growing up without hearing the frog’s mating calls.
And, Buffonge disclosed that his Government is looking to ensure that mountain chicken is not left in the island’s past since they are reaching out to the youth to make them a part of the recovery process.
He revealed: “We are looking to increase these outreach sessions with the grants we have currently applied for, including improving signage on national trails etc. We are very grateful for the continued support of the citizens of Montserrat, who boost the motivation of the team with their continued interest in the project and positive interactions with project staff.
“In order to keep the spark of engagement alive within younger generations, DoE and Durrell lead regular outreach initiatives to local schools, teaching them all about the mountain chicken, their natural heritage, its decline as a result of Chytrid fungus and the scientific protocol used to counter it.”
Buffonge added that efforts to combat chytrid is a region-wide effort and the successes of Monserrat will be used as the guide for saving amphibians on other islands.
