Developing a Captive Breeding Facility for Malagasy Amphibians in Peril at Parc Ivoloina, Toamasina, Madagascar

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Developing a Captive Breeding Facility for Malagasy Amphibians in Peril at Parc Ivoloina, Toamasina, Madagascar Project directors Maya Moore, Program Manager, Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group Email:

1 Developing a Captive Breeding Facility for Malagasy Amphibians in Peril at Parc Ivoloina, Toamasina, Madagascar Project directors Maya Moore, Program Manager, Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group maya@savethelemur.org Phone: Dr. Karen Freeman, Research Director, Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group karenlmfreeman@hotmail.com Phone: Bernard Iambana Richardson, Parc Zoologique Ivoloina National Director, Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group bernard@savethelemur.org Phone: Total Funding Requested from AArk: 5,000 USD Executive Summary A recent publication in PLoS ONE confirms that the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium denrobatidis (Bd), which causes the emerging infectious disease chytridiomycosis, has arrived in Madagascar 1. Chytridiomycosis, or chytrid, has been called the worst infectious disease ever recorded among vertebrates in terms of the numbers of species impacted and its propensity to drive them to extinction 2. Thus, an urgent call to action is imminent in order to prevent a catastrophic decline in Madagascar s amphibian biodiversity which boasts an exceptional 4% of all known amphibian species in the world. The Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group (MFG) is a consortium of zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums working to conserve biodiversity in Madagascar. MFG operates a small zoological park (Parc Zoologique Ivoloina) 12 km from the port city of Toamasina on the east coast of Madagascar. In 2013, MFG received funding from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT) and the Unione Italiana degli Zoo e degli Acquari (UIZA) to construct Madagascar s second Amphibian Conservation Center (ACC). MFG is currently seeking 5,000 USD to further develop and expand its captive breeding facility for threatened Madagascar amphibians. Amphibian Ark (AArk) funds will be used to purchase supplies for the center, including a water treatment system as part of enhanced biosecurity measures, materials for live food production, and field equipment for amphibian inventories.

2 Introduction Madagascar hosts some of the world s highest amphibian endemism and species richness 3. Around 300 species have been identified and described, while another 150 are still awaiting description. Tragically, over one quarter of Madagascar s amphibians are threatened with extinction, mainly due to loss of habitat. Collection of amphibians for the pet trade, climate change, and invasive species also threaten the frogs of Madagascar. However, the recent arrival of Bd poses perhaps the greatest threat of all. At present, the only realistic response to a Bd outbreak is to take species into captivity. However, the capacity to do so in Madagascar is currently extremely limited. Therefore, it is of utmost necessity to have the appropriate infrastructure in place in advance of the inevitable spread of Bd. Based outside of Toamasina, home to the largest seaport in Madagascar with many shipping containers, goods and vehicles coming from abroad, Parc Ivoloina is ideally situated to play a major role in ex situ conservation of threatened amphibian species. Notably, we co-manage, along with Madagascar National Parks, Betampona Strict Natural Reserve, a 2,228 ha protected area which is home to more than 76 frog species including a number of local endemics. Having the ability to enact conservation breeding programs for these species at nearby Parc Ivoloina would be a major step in Madagascar s ability to address the threats to amphibians. After attending an amphibian husbandry training with Association Mitsinjo in Andasibe in November 2012, MFG received funds from DWCT and UIZA to construct a small one-room breeding facility. The building was completed in October of 2013, and is currently being used to rear insects for live food, and a small population of the endemic frog Heterixalus madagascariensis in six terrariums equipped with solar powered light units. The past six months have served as a practical hands-on training experience for our existing animal keepers while developing the capacity to carry out successful conservation breeding programs for more threatened species. Methodology The project site is located at Parc Ivoloina, 12 km northwest of the eastern port city of Toamasina, Madagascar. Additional training, equipment and materials are needed to ensure the highest possible levels of biosecurity and to provide conditions suitable for raising amphibians and their live invertebrate food at Ivoloina s recently established Amphibian Conservation Center (ACC). Biosecurity principles described by Pessier and Mendelson 4 (2010) will be adhered to the extent possible to ensure diseases do not enter, exit, or spread around the facility. Examples of biosecurity measures include treatment of incoming and outgoing water, physical barriers on the floor near the entrance, securing the facility so frogs cannot enter or exit, and requiring personnel who enter the facility wear dedicated footwear and clothing, as well as limiting the number of people allowed to enter the facility. Assuring a sufficient food supply for the captive frogs is among the most important tasks of the ACC. Flightless fruit flies (Drosophila) will be cultured in jars. Collembolans will be cultured for juvenile frogs, and we are also rearing worms. Crickets will also be

3 cultured in plastic storage containers. Additionally, we will also experiment with culturing other types of invertebrates that are native to the Toamasina area, such as cockroach, beetle and termite species. As a complement, vitamin and mineral supplements will be used to ensure all nutritional requirements are met. The project will rely on Parc Ivoloina for staffing. One employee is needed for maintenance, cleaning and control of vivaria, aquaria, record keeping, and producing live food. Their training will be assured by experienced amphibian specialists including technicians from Association Mitsinjo and their amphibian conservation officer Devin Edmonds. Amphibian species will be chosen based on their conservation status, potential for successful management in captivity, and high ranking on the AArk species prioritization list. The priority species list will be developed by Devin Edmonds, Franco Andreone (Amphibian Specialist Group Madagascar and Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Torino) and Karen Freeman (MFG Research Director). As recommended by the Sahonagasy Action Plan 5, species representative of varied ecological guilds will also be kept and bred at the facility to determine their captive care and breeding requirements. Should or when captive assurance colonies of threatened species need to be established, tools such as the Amphibian Ark Population Management Guidelines 6 will be used to determine how many founders to collect for genetically viable captive populations. Budget MFG is currently seeking 5000 USD funding from AArk for field equipment, live food supplies, and staff trainings. AArk will demonstrate support from a prominent amphibian conservation organization which will help leverage other funding sources. Item (Quantity x CPU) Total Cost Requested from AArk Other Source/Status Field Equipment Two-person tent $200 $200 Headlamps (3 x $ 30) $90 $90 Sub-total $290 $290 Live food production Plastic bags (1000 x $0.25) $250 $250 Small plastic boxes for insects (100 x $120 $120 $12) Large plastic boxes for crickets (50 x $100 $100 $15) Jars for Drosophila (500 x $0.50) $250 $250 Local produce for Drosophila media $500 $500 and crickets for one year Vitamin and mineral supplements $50 $50 Sub-total $1270 $1270 Personnel Salary for personnel working in ACC at $ MFG

4 40 hours per week (approved) Trainings for personnel (held at Mitsinjo and Ivoloina) $ DWCT (approved) Sub-total $ Biosecurity of Facility and Upscaling Vivaria Additional shelving units with lights $150 $150 Additional vivaria (6 x $150) $900 $900 Ingoing water treatment: solar water heater $1,500 $1,500 Outgoing water treatment: concrete box filled with gravel and sand and charcoal $440 $440 Room extension: mud room to change $350 $350 shoes before entering facility Uniforms & boots for personnel $100 $100 Sub-total $3440 $3440 Requested from AArk $5000 Currently seeking from other sources $5140 Total $10,140 Project Timeline (2014) Activity May June July Aug Sept Oct Trainings from Mitsinjo partner organization Procure materials Live food production Construction of room extension, additional shelving units and vivaria Ensuring biosecurity measures are in place Additional field research on amphibians Literature Cited 1 Presence of the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus Batrachochytrium denrobatidis in Native Amphibians Exported from Madagascar. Jonathan E. Kolby, Research Article published 05 Mar 2014 PLoS ONE, /journal.pone Amphibian Conservation Summit, Washington DC, Sept. 2005

5 3 The challenge of conserving amphibian megadiversity in Madagascar. Franco Andreone, Angus I Carpenter, Neil Cox, Louis du Preez, Karen Freeman, Samuel Furrer, Gerardo Garcia, Frank Glaw, Julian Glos, David Knox, Jörn Köhler, Joseph R Mendelson, Vincenzo Mercurio, Russell A Mittermeier, Robin D Moore, Nirhy H. C Rabibisoa, Herilala Randriamahazo, Harison Randrianasolo, Noromalala Rasoamampionona Raminosoa, Olga Ravoahangimalala Ramilijaona, Christopher J Raxworthy, Denis Vallan, Miguel Vences, David R Vieites, Ché Weldon Perspective published 06 May 2008 PLoS Biology /journal.pbio Pessier, A.P. & J.R. Mendelson (eds.) (2010): A Manual for Control of Infectious Diseases in Amphibian Survival Assurance Colonies and Reintroduction Programs. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, Apple Valley, MN, USA. 5 Andreone F., Randriamahazo H Sahonagasy Action Plan. Conservation Programs for the Amphibians of Madagascar. 6 Schad, K., editor. Amphibian Population Management Guidelines Amphibian Ark Amphibian Population Management Workshop December 10-11: San Diego, CA, USA. Amphibian Ark,

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