Few amphibians have a parenting routine quite like the Darwin's Frog. After his tadpoles hatch, the male scoops them into his vocal sac and carries them there for several weeks, until tiny froglets emerge fully formed and ready to take on the forest. It's a strategy that has secured the species' survival for as long as the species has existed.
In Chile, an organization that takes its name from this remarkable frog has been doing the same kind of careful protective work for amphibians at a much larger scale. We're delighted to welcome ONG Ranita de Darwin to the Amphibian Survival Alliance.
Established in 2015, ONG Ranita de Darwin is Chile's first non-profit organization dedicated entirely to the conservation, research, and public outreach of the country's amphibians and their habitats. The team combines high-level scientific research with community-driven action, ensuring that amphibian conservation in Chile is effective, sustainable, and connected to the people whose decisions shape these landscapes every day.
Their flagship monitoring program, running since 2014, covers the full range of the Southern Darwin's Frog (Rhinoderma darwinii) and tracks the landscape-level dynamics of three endemic Chilean species (the Darwin's Frog, the Rosy Ground Frog, and the Grey Wood Frog) facing the global threat of chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd).
Through Yo Protejo Mis Ranitas ("I Protect My Frogs"), ONG Ranita de Darwin works directly with private landowners across Chile to protect amphibian habitats in native forests, wetlands, and streams. The organization is also part of the monitoring group for Plan RECOGE for Darwin's Frogs, led by Chile's Ministry of the Environment, the country's first conservation plan focused on amphibians and the threats they face: forest fires, disease, habitat loss, and invasive species.
Education and outreach run through every part of the work. School talks, audiovisual resources, and scientific and public publications ensure that amphibian conservation reaches the communities and decision-makers shaping Chile's future.
The Darwin's Frog has been carrying its young to safety, one mouthful at a time, for as long as the species has existed. It's a fitting namesake for a team doing the same job at a country scale. Welcome to the network. We're glad to have you with us.
Learn more: ranitadedarwin.org
