Titicaca Water Frog – more than 100 000 annually killed by human consumption and by-catch

The Titicaca Water Frog is endemic to the Lake Titicaca Basin in the Andes of Bolivia and Peru and it is currently one the most endangered amphibian species in the world. Its population has crashed by more than 80 Prozent over the last three generations. Over-exploitation, habitat loss and destruction, environmental pollution and the introduction of invasive species have decreased its range significantly and threaten its survival in the wild.

Over the years, several studies on the reproductive cycle and commercial frog farming have been conducted. But in April 2009, a successful pilot study of direct relevance to the in-situ conservation of the species by Asociación Armonía and funded by Stiftung Artenschutz and Thrigby Conservation Fund was completed. The main objectives of the study were to summarise and provide information about current Bolivian Titicaca Water Frog (commercial, research and conservation) projects in Bolivia, and to identify the breeding grounds of the species. Furthermore the study succeeded in quantifying the annual frog mortality rate associated with by-catch in fishing nets and human consumption. According to the study, the annual Titicaca water frog mortality was estimated to be 100,000.

This study is of great significance for the Titicaca water frog conservation in Bolivia as it helps obtaining important baseline information required for successful future conservation actions.

Titicaca Water Frog Conservation Study