Life’s tough when you’re tiny, especially when you’re the Gigantes Limestone Frog (Platymantis insulatus). Found only on the Gigantes Island Group northeast of Panay Island, these Frogs are rare and under threat. Project Palaka, the first ex-situ Amphibian conservation program in the Philippines, is working hard to help them out.
Let’s hear from Project Palaka’s director, Norman Greenhawk, who introduces us to this exciting new chapter in conservation.
ANIMAL SCENE: HOW DID PROJECT PALAKA START?
Norman Greenhawk: The idea for Project Palaka started in 2014. I had been living in Puerto Rico working with Amphibian and Reptile conservation at Las Casas de la Selva. The year before, I had visited Panama and obtained training in ex-situ conservation techniques for Amphibians. Because of its shared history with Puerto Rico (being part of the Spanish Empire, then being claimed by America after the Spanish-American War, etc.), I was curious to visit the Philippines.
I applied for a Fulbright Student Award; for my proposal, I suggested a pilot program to see if it was feasible to set up and maintain an ex-situ conservation project in the Philippines. I was selected as a Fulbrighter, and in July 2015, I boarded a flight in San Juan, Puerto Rico; 27 hours later, I arrived in Manila.
The project was housed on the campus of the University of the Philippines, Los Banos. We obtained our permits and collected species of Platymantis Frogs, as well as Rhacophorus pardalis and Pulchrana similis. None of these species were threatened; we were testing to see if we could maintain them
in captivity. They are what we call “analog species”; we were keeping them in captivity to obtain the data necessary to develop ex-situ methods of keeping more endangered species of Frogs alive in captivity.
After the end of my Fulbright, in April 2016, this initial phase of the project was shut down, and I returned to Puerto Rico to obtain my Master’s degree from the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. But I always wanted to restart the project.
In 2019, I had that chance, and I moved to the Philippines to make it happen.
WHAT IS EX-SITU CONSERVATION?
“Ex-situ” conservation is the term used to describe any method of protecting species that involves taking them out of the wild; zoos are examples of ex-situ conservation, as are “head-starting” programs, such as when the eggs of threatened Reptiles or Birds are collected and hatched. The young are then reared to a certain age and then returned to the wild.
In the case of Project Palaka, the goal is to breed endangered Amphibians in captivity and then return the offspring to the wild, to boost wild populations.
WHAT’S THE PROJECT UP TO NOW?
NG: Currently, we are working with Platymantis insulatus, the Gigantes Limestone Frog. P. insulatus is the only amphibian in the Philippines that has been listed as “Critically Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). “Critically Endangered” is the direst label that the IUCN can designate; species so listed are in grave threat of extinction, and should be prioritized for conservation efforts.
Gigantes Limestone Frogs have a naturally small range – they are habitat specialists, and only inhabit the karst hills and caves of the Gigantes Islands. [Unfortunately,] the karst limestone is deforested for charcoal production, and the caves are sometimes damaged by vandalism, limestone quarrying, treasure hunting, and guano collection.
Our conservation efforts involve both ex-situ and in-situ (in the field) actions. We keep P. insulatus in captivity for conservation breeding purposes, but we also monitor wild populations and work to mitigate threats so that one day, captive breeding will no longer be necessary.
AS: WHAT DID IT TAKE TO START CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR THE GIGANTES LIMESTONE FROG?
NG: In 2021, I took two students to the Gigantes Islands. We surveyed available habitat, observed threats, and collected the founder population of our captive breeding program. Returning with the Frogs to Luzon, we established them in captivity.
In January 2022, I took a larger team of seven people to Gigantes. We surveyed more habitat, conducted population counts, and collected Frogs from additional areas for the captive breeding program.
In October 2022, I was able to breed Platymantis insulatus in captivity for the first time. Since then, we have bred the Frogs four additional times. Soon, we hope to return the Frogs born in 2022 to the wild, back to the karst forests of Gigantes where their parents are from.
In June 2023, Project Palaka relocated to the Subic Bay Freeport. Our new partner, Ocean Adventure, provided us with larger facilities that will allow us to expand our operations over time. Their staff, as well as the staff of Wildlife in Need, our other new partner, assist us with the daily care and maintenance of the Frogs.
We recently had two egg clutches laid at the new facility, and are eagerly awaiting the next juveniles to hatch!
AS: WAS IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS THE FROGS’ HABITAT?
NG: Working with Platymantis insulatus is a unique experience, because the species is a habitat specialist, and is confined to one specific group of islands. It takes a lot of planning and coordination to undertake field work, including obtaining the necessary permits, planning travel, organizing the group, and then getting the equipment to and from the island.
Some areas of the karst landscape in Gigantes are quite steep, and climbing them is tiring and potentially hazardous. Luckily, the communities in Gigantes have supported our work and we always hire local field guides to help us get to and from our study sites.
AS: WAS IT EASY TO BUILD AN ENCLOSURE FOR THE GIGANTES LIMESTONE FROGS?
NG: Recreating the unique habitat of P. insulatus is a challenge. The karst areas alternate between wet and dry conditions; it usually rains in the morning and afternoon, but the water drains away quickly, leaving a drier habitat. We had to recreate those conditions in captivity.
We also have to divide the tanks between “forest” areas and “cave” areas, since the Frogs utilize both types of habitats.
Lastly, when we think of Frogs, we think of tadpoles. But many species of Frogs, including the Philippine Frogs of the genus Platymantis, don’t have a free swimming tadpole stage. Instead, they undergo direct development: Rather than laying gelatinous eggs in the water, the female lays soft, transparent eggs on land.
The embryos undergo complete development within the egg, and hatch out as miniature Froglets. This means that we have to prepare numerous laying sites within the terrariums where we keep the Frogs, so that the females have ample space to lay.
It also means that we have to have a constant supply of small Insects, because the newborn Frogs are voracious eaters.
These new 75-gallon tanks provided a more spacious home for the Frogs.
AS: HOW CAN PEOPLE SUPPORT YOUR WORK?
NG: First and foremost, be kind to Frogs! I know that not everyone likes them, but Amphibians help control Insect populations, including the Mosquitoes that carry dengue and other diseases that impact human health.
If you have a yard, try to incorporate Amphibian habitats – upside down clay pots for shelter, different types of plants for different habitat structures, and, if you have a particularly large yard, perhaps consider adding a decorative pond for aquatic habitat.
Many people can’t afford to do [these], but at the very least, when you see a Frog or Toad, leave [them] be.
Two Platymantis insulatus soak in a water dish post-transport.
These two Frogs who belong to the Platymantis insulatus species look quite comfortable as they nestled in the rocks inside a PVC cave.
AS: HOW DOES ONE GET IN TOUCH WITH PROJECT PALAKA?
NG: Project Palaka is still getting settled into [its] new facility, so we will have news coming in the next few months. Follow us on our social media to stay in touch.
Facebook: Project Palaka Instagram: Project Palaka & Norman Alexander
If you’re a fellow conservationist who is interested in partnering with us, then reach out to us on these platforms. My long-term goal is to integrate my work here in the Philippines with my work in other areas around the world. We are eager to collaborate!
