![]() The goliath frog is also at risk due to loss of habitat, with continued deforestation, farming, logging and the expansion of human settlements. ![]() ![]() They have also been hunted as trophies and for the pet trade. The species is Endangered due to being over-hunted for food. The species is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The goliath frog has been around for more than 250 million years and is one of only a few amphibians still alive that lived on Earth before dinosaurs. Now that we know the species has not disappeared, we can study the amphibian in more detail, monitor its presence and help protect this endangered species.” “However, it was only seen in one small section of the survey area, indicating it needs to be better protected. This incredible frog hasn’t been officially confirmed in the national park by INDEFOR-AP for almost two decades. “The frogs were very sensitive to noise, and they were all found along the same short stretch of riverbank, close to a waterfall.”ĭr Gráinne McCabe, head of field conservation and science at Bristol Zoological Society, said: “When the team came out of the forest they were overjoyed to share the news. “This dampened our hopes of finding the goliath frog in Equatorial Guinea, so to then spot over 10 individuals across multiple nights was incredibly heartening. Sam Hurley, Biological Sciences masters research student at the University of Bristol, said: “A few weeks before this trip, we had carried out a survey on the other side of the national park and were unable to locate any of these incredible creatures. They had hoped to collect vocal recordings of the frog, however, the animal was not heard calling, perhaps confirming previous accounts that it is indeed a quiet, if not silent, amphibian. Over 10 days in the forest, the researchers spotted the amphibian in a small waterfall. Working in partnership with local guides and INDEFOR-AP, the national park service of Equatorial Guinea, the researchers conducted a survey along the Benito River. Goliath frogs can be as big as some housecats, measuring up to 34cm in length and weighing more than 3kg.Ĭoncerned by the lack of recent evidence of the species in the national park, conservationists travelled to Equatorial Guinea to find evidence that the giant amphibian was not lost to the region. The most recent amphibian survey in the country’s Monte Alén National Park, which is one of the goliath frog's few known habitats, recorded no sign of it.
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