Starry night Harlequin toads in Colombia
Harlequin toads are among the world's most threatened amphibians, with 80 of the 96 species classified as Endangered, Critically Endangered or Extinct in the Wild.
Amphibians under threat
Starry night harlequin toads, so named because they look like the dark, starry skies in their mountain habitat, are only found in Columbia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. They’re incredibly striking amphibians, with their shiny black skin, dotted with white spots.
Harlequin toads are among the world’s most threatened amphibians, with 80 of the 96 species classified as Endangered, Critically Endangered or Extinct in the Wild. Starry night harlequin toads are classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. They’re threatened by infectious disease, habitat destruction and degradation, invasive species and climate change.
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM) is a truly unique location; it’s the highest coastal mountain range in the world and has been declared the most irreplaceable protected area for threatened amphibians. It’s also home to the indigenous Arhuaco people of the Sogrome community who call the starry night harlequin toads ‘gouna’ and view them as water guardians. It was thought these toads had gone extinct for nearly 30 years, until members of the Sogrome community alerted researchers to their existence and in 2019, after four years of careful discussions between the indigenous community and Fundación Atelopus (a Columbian NGO) researchers were allowed to see the starry night harlequin toad, highlighting the power of local indigenous knowledge in protecting and recovering species.
Targeted conservation in action
José Luis Pérez Gonzáles and the team at Fundación Atelopus are continuing to collaborate with the Sogrome community, monitoring the populations to evaluate their size and health, whilst also implementing targeted conservation measures. They’re protecting the toad’s habitat, controlling pollution, and managing pathogens. All of these measures should safeguard starry night harlequin toads from extinction.
Two tree nurseries are being established in the Sogrome community and local women and young people will lead on the seed and native seedling collection. The seedlings will be used to gradually restore habitats in priority conservation areas. Fundación Atelopus will also work with local authorities and communities to include the toad-friendly measures in official management and conservation plans for protected areas in the region.
Jose Luis and the team have already had great success working with the Sogrome community on conserving these endangered toads and this next step in the process will be an incredibly useful template for other researchers planning to work sympathetically with indigenous communities on conservation projects.
Header image credit Fundación Atelopus