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Panama's Harlequin Frog
Status
Funded

Save Panama’s Imperiled Harlequin Frog from Extinction

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Project Overview

The Cocobolo Nature Reserve is home to the only known breeding population of the endemic and Critically Endangered Harlequin Frog.

  • Species at Risk

    5 species

  • Carbon stored

    154,034 mT*

    *(metric tons of CO2 equivalents)
  • Partner

    Conservation through Research Education and Action (CREA)

  • 819 Proposed Acres Conserved by

    Purchase

Project Cost: $385,061
Funding Raised: $385,061

Please note that your donation may not be immediately reflected in the funding thermometer above.

Panama
Proposed Acres

819

Project Overview

The Cocobolo Nature Reserve is home to the only known breeding population of the endemic and Critically Endangered Harlequin Frog.

  • Species at Risk

    5 species

  • Carbon stored

    154,034 mT*

    *(metric tons of CO2 equivalents)
  • Partner

    Conservation through Research Education and Action (CREA)

  • 819 Proposed Acres Conserved by

    Purchase

Project Cost: £281,551
Funding Raised: £281,551

Please note that your donation may not be immediately reflected in the funding thermometer above.

Panama
Proposed Acres

819

Stop rapid deforestation

Rainforest Trust needs your help to more than triple the size of the Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Panama, which encompasses a lush combination of intact tropical rainforest and cloud forest. Cattle ranching and commercial farming are rapidly increasing in the region, encroaching on the 250-acre reserve and fragmenting nearby habitat. Without immediate expansion, these harmful activities will continue unchecked and the forest surrounding the Cocobolo Nature Reserve will be lost forever.

A critical portion of the world’s third largest biodiversity hotspot, the Cocobolo Nature Reserve was established to protect threatened species like Limosa Harlequin Frog (CR), Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey (EN) and Baird’s Tapir (EN) from habitat loss.

Did you know?

400

bird species call this expanded reserve home.

Explore Panama

Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey
1 of 3

Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey

Baird’s Tapir
2 of 3

The Endangered Baird’s Tapir courtesy of Mark Kostich/Shutterstock

Rainforest in clouds
3 of 3

Protect Panama’s tropical rainforest

We are teaming up with our local partner, Conservation through Research Education and Action (CREA), to purchase 819 acres of forest—expanding the reserve to protect 1,069 total acres.

With the new land, the reserve will be home to at least 400 bird species, 78 reptile species, 54 amphibian species, 93 mammal species and 53 bat species. Five primate species are also found here as well as five cat species and a myriad of ancient plant species.

Save the Harlequin Frog

In addition to the wide range of biodiversity, your support of this expansion will also help the Cocobolo create a stronghold for the Limosa Harlequin Frog. Endemic to Panama, the Limosa Harlequin Frog has been forced out of most of its range because a fatal disease called chytridiomycosis has infected the majority of its population.

Chytridiomycosis is caused from “chytrid” fungus that naturally occurs in the soil and water amphibians rely on to survive. Scientists argue that climate change might alter the fungus’ growth pattern, accelerating the spread—tipping the natural balance in favor of the fungus and decimating amphibian populations worldwide.

The reserve is habitat for 200 individuals of the frog, one of the last known wild breeding populations. Cocobolo is among the last areas where this species has been confirmed.