Conservation and threats
The biosecure laboratory where the Kihansi Spray toads are being breed in captivity. © T Herman
Threats
This toad was threatened by a combination of factors. Habitat disturbance resulting from the Kihansi Dam construction for hydroelectric power generation, which drastically reduced the level of wetland-maintaining spray (2000). The habitat dried up before an artificial sprinkler system was introduced.
In 2003:
- the sprinkler system failed during the dry season
- the fungal disease chytridiomycosis was found in Kihansi toads
- the dam floodgates were opened releasing sediments containing high concentrations of agricultural pesticide (Krajic 2006)
Population crash
Extinct in the wild after the population crashed dramatically in 2003.
The last population boom was in June 2003 when an estimated 20,000 Kihansi toads were reported seen.
By August 2003 only 40 toads were found (for probable causes see the Conservation and threats section) by January 2004 only five. By May 2005 a biologist claimed to have seen one individual.
Breeding program
Captive breeding is ongoing in Toledo and New York Bronx Zoos. The captive populations have fluctuated as husbandry problems have been encountered and addressed (animals were initially plagued with various infections and nutritional deficiencies). Ex situ colonies were comprised of a total of 460 individuals on February 12, 2007 (CBSG 2007).
Reintroduction efforts will be seriously hampered by need to re-establish the highly specialised habitat type and the presence of high levels of pesticides in the home habitat.
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Management and legislation
Get information regarding the management and legislative practices in place to support the Kihansi spray toad.
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Trends
Learn more about the fluctuating population of Kihansi spray toads and the dramatic crash in numbers that occurred in 2003.
Conservation status
IUCN Classification
CITES Appendix 1 species
Red List Category and Criteria Status
- Extinct in the wild (EW) ver 3.1
- Formerly (2003-2008) Critically Endangered B1ab(ii, iii,v)+2ab(ii, iii,v)
