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Extinct frog rediscovered in Israel

30/11/2011 15:12:56

Hula Painted frog - Rediscovered in 2011. Credit Dror Galili

Thought extinct when marshes were drained in 1950's

November 2011. Two specimens of a frog that was believed to be extinct have been found in Israel. The Hula painted frog (Discoglossus nigriventer) was declared extinct in 1996 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

"The species now has another chance to survive," said a representative of Israel's Nature and Parks Authority. An inspector from the Authority found the frog in the Hula Valley and is has now been placed in a protective facility.

Only 5 have ever been found
Only five Hula painted frogs have ever been collected. Four were found in 1940 and one in the 1950s, when most the Hula Valley's marshes were drained to create arable land eradicate malaria. Parts of the valley were re-flooded three years ago, and it is believed that this has helped the frog cling on to existence.

In 2000, a scientist from the Lebanese nature protection organisation A Rocha claimed he had seen a frog species which could be Discoglossus nigriventer in the Aammiq marshes south of the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon. Two French-Lebanese-British expeditions in the years 2004 and 2005 yielded no confirmation as to the further existence of this species. In August 2010, a search organised by the Amphibian Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature set out to look for various species of frogs thought to be extinct in the wild, including the Israel painted frog.

1/3 of world's frogs endangered or extinct
Blaming habitat loss and fungal disease, the IUCN believes nearly a third of the world's amphibian species are endangered or extinct.

Conservation International have launched a global search for "lost frogs". the announcement follows an expedition to the remote mountains of southern Haiti last October, led by CI's Amphibian Conservation Specialist Dr. Robin Moore in partnership with Dr. Blair Hedges of Pennsylvania State University.

Hula Painted frog Q & A

Are any special steps being made now to secure the future of the Hula Painted frog?

For about a decade, Hula Nature Reserve is in the process of improving its habitats, mainly by improved water supply, qualitatively and quantitatively. This improvement is still taking place; As you may know, Israel is a semi-arid country, and the process of "wasting" water on Nature values is not self-evident. But, we are on the right track! No special management steps are taken for the Painted frog, but for the whole habitat. Of course we are going to investigate the Natural History of this elusive spesies, after which we may apply what special management necessary.

Are there any other ‘missing' frogs on the same region?

The fauna of Israel includes only seven Amphibian species, including the Painted frog. If there are other 'missing species' there is not sufficient data-base gathered about Hula Swamps before it was drained.

Has any other wildlife returned since more water was diverted to the Hula Valley?

During the process of habitat improvement, we see an increase in Biodiversity, mainly rare flora species, and invertebrate groups, such as Zigoptera and Anizoptera. In general, we enhance our monitoring efforts throughout the Reserve.

Rediscovered frogs

Searching the Hula Valley for frogs - Photo credit Dror Galili

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