London Zoo Breeds Critically Endangered Frogs First Time

Twenty tiny tadpoles just survived a 4,500-mile journey from Ghana to London, and every single one made it. The Atewa slippery frog and Afia Birago's puddle frog are now thriving at London Zoo, giving hope to two species teetering on the edge of extinction.

Both frogs call Ghana's Atewa Hills Forest Reserve home, but mining operations are rapidly destroying their habitat. The Atewa slippery frog, only discovered by scientists in 2021, has fewer than 1,500 individuals left in the wild. Afia Birago's puddle frog faces even worse odds: the tiny amphibian, small enough to sit on a coin, now survives in just two pools.

In September 2024, the Zoological Society of London partnered with conservation groups in Ghana to relocate some of the frogs to safety. The goal was simple but urgent: learn how to care for these species before they disappear forever.

The rescue mission paid off faster than anyone expected. In November 2024, London Zoo became the first institution in the world to successfully breed the Atewa slippery frog in human care. All 20 tadpoles that made the transatlantic journey developed into healthy adults.

Ben Tapley, the zoo's curator of reptiles and amphibians, explained the race against time. With both species facing imminent extinction and limited resources in Ghana for specialized amphibian care, moving a population to London gave researchers the chance to study them while they still can.

The Ripple Effect

The partnership created something bigger than a frog rescue. Zoo keeper Unnar Aevarsson traveled to Ghana to help establish West Africa's first dedicated amphibian conservation facility. Now Ghana has the infrastructure and expertise to protect its own threatened species.

Researchers painstakingly recreated the frogs' natural environment in both countries, collecting water samples and photographing local vegetation to get every detail right. The Atewa slippery frog even requires special conditions for its unusual fish-like swimming and distinctive whistling call.

The frogs went on public display at London Zoo on Friday, where visitors can see conservation in action. Conservationists hope captive-bred frogs will eventually return to protected habitats in Ghana, rebuilding wild populations that mining operations put at risk.

Two species that could have vanished unnoticed now have breeding populations on two continents and a conservation facility dedicated to their survival.