A last of its species is alone no more

The last known Sehuencas water frog (Telmatobius yuracare) existed alone in captivity in Bolivia while biologists searched for a possible mate. After 10 years, they succeeded. On an expedition to a Bolivian cloud forest, the organization Global Wildlife Conservation and the Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d’Orbigny captured five more of the species — three males and two females — and brought them into a conservation breeding program. They join the frog nicknamed Romeo, who even has a dating profile on Match.com. Bolivia has the 10^thhighest level of amphibian diversity in the world, but many species, including the Sehuencas water frog, face declines due to chytrid disease, habitat destruction and other factors.

Read the story in the New York Times, and read an account of the frogs’ discovery on the Global Wildlife Conservation website.