Biodiversity in focus: the rescue story of Lehmann’s poison frog

With their heart-shaped toes and striking colors, these tiny, 3-centimeter-long dart frogs have become victims of their own charm. Colombia is home to over 500 frog species, and among them, Lehmann’s poison frog (Oophaga lehmanni) is both a Critically Endangered and an endemic species—found nowhere else on Earth. But their story isn’t only one of loss; it’s also one of collaboration and resilience. 

Victims of their own charm

A mostly solitary creature, O. lehmanni spends its time on the forest floor or low vegetation, interacting with others only to mate. Unfortunately, many of its encounters are now with humans. This species’ biggest threat is the illegal pet trade. According to information shared during a recent visit to the Cali Zoo, its main destinations are Germany and other EU countries.

Just a week ago, during the Annual Meeting of the Conservation Planning Specialist Group of the IUCN SSC, I had the chance to visit the ex situ conservation program for O. lehmanni at the Cali Zoo in Cali, Colombia. There, I learned more about this species’ story—which I share here with you—as well as the reasons for hope. 

From confiscation to conservation

In 2018, during a Conservation Needs Assessment workshop for Colombia’s amphibians, local scientists highlighted O. lehmanni as one of the species most urgently needing conservation action. One priority was to reintroduce individuals into their natural habitats. But there were no frogs in Colombian institutions to source them from. 

Then came a bittersweet twist. In November 2018, authorities confiscated 216 illegally extracted frogs at Bogotá’s airport. Among them, several O. lehmanni. Many did not survive the ensuing legal and logistical processes, but about 30 individuals were eventually transferred to the Cali Zoo, where a coalition of Colombian and international zoos, universities, and other organizations began an ex situ breeding program. The goal: to breed frogs that could one day return to the wild. 

Just five months later, 400 frogs were again confiscated—including 80 more Lehmann’s poison frogs that also joined the rescue program. It’s hard to frame this as a positive thing, but given the species’ critical conservation status and the local capacity now in place, their confiscation has, fortunately, turned into a source of hope.   

The breeding challenge 

Breeding O. lehmanni isn’t simple. The species has a unique reproductive strategy that’s as fascinating as it is demanding. After mating, females carry their tadpoles on their backs to small water pools that form in bromeliads and other plants—called phytotelmata. Each tadpole gets its own pool, and the mother feeds it with unfertilized eggs, a behavior known as oophagy (hence their name, Oophaga literally means “egg-eater”).

Replicating this process in captivity required patience and a lot of trial and error in finding the right pH, temperature and humidity. It also involves supplementing with vitamins, minerals, and appropriate levels of UV light to mimic what they’d naturally obtain in the wild. These are important things to consider to prevent common amphibian diseases and malformations and guarantee their health and survival. But the Cali Zoo and collaborators have made it!

In the five years since the start of the program, more than 150 O. lehmanni have been successfully reintroduced into their native habitat. This achievement highlights a key aspect of conservation success: collaboration. Scientists, zookeepers, and community members work together to refine breeding techniques, monitor released individuals, and share knowledge across a variety of institutions.

Communities, conservation, and trafficking

While scientists worked in laboratories and controlled environments, local communities worked to protect what remains of this species’ habitat. Organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) worked with local people to promote habitat protection and build a sense of pride and stewardship around the species. 

The message is seemingly simple but powerful: protecting biodiversity can bring more benefits alive and wild than dead or sold. But not all conservation happens locally. All of this must also happen in parallel with efforts to fight wildlife trafficking—something we can all contribute to, considering that demand comes from all over the world (particularly the US and Europe). But more about that in a future post.

Conservation and commerce?

There’s another Colombian initiative that began over two decades ago which seeks to breed and sell captive-bred frogs for the pet demand. They do this with local legal permits as well as CITES permits. Personally, I’m not a fan of keeping wildlife as pets, but if people will buy them, why not ensure they come from certified, traceable, captive-bred sources rather than poachers? 

There still seem to be many international loopholes around this, but the idea is supported by CITES and regulations are being strengthened at the moment (in some countries at least). This can help reduce the incentive for wildlife trafficking, which often involves not only species and ecological damage but also violence and conflict within local communities. More on this Colombian initiative here.

A glimmer of hope

Thanks to the combination of ex situ and in situ conservation actions, Lehmann’s poison frog is already returning home. Results are yet to be evaluated in a future conservation status assessment, but the work is not stopping anytime soon.

Ex situ conservation is always a complementary way to rescue and protect species, but it also allows scientists to study behaviors that are difficult to observe in the wild. These insights can also inform better in situ conservation measures. Ex situ conservation, the role of zoos, and breed-to-sell are not new, but they still raise eyebrows and spark controversy. What is your opinion? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Cover photo: a poster of Lehmann’s poison frog I bought at La Linterna, a letterpress printing workshop in Cali, Colombia. “A cultural beacon” since 1934 that still prints with 1800s presses and holds strong cultural and political significance in the city. To me, this and other biodiveristy-themed posters at La Linterna, show how Colombia’s rich biodiversity is not only ecological but cultural, something people continue to celebrate and make their own.

Sources:

1. Personal visit and guided tour by Cali Zoo scientists and zookeepers.
2. Gómez-Díaz, M., et al. 2016. Actualización del plan de manejo para la rana venenosa de Lehmann Oophaga lehmanni (Myers y Daly 1976). Plan de Manejo.
3. Pool, J.R. 2015 (18 Nov). Farmed and legally exported Colombian poison frogs take on the illegal pet trade. Mongabay News. 
4. Arellano, A. 2025 (30 Nov). Volver al valle: 21 ranas en peligro crítico de extinción regresan a su hogar en Colombia. Mongabay News. 
5. Raman, S. 2025 (24 Mar). Regulation loopholes fuel illegal wildlife trade from Latin America to Europe. Mongabay News.