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Kihansi toads sent to US back by year end
2007-05-15 09:50:19
By Austin Beyadi, Bagamoyo
Over 400 endangered toads from Kihansi hydro-power sent to a US zoo for conservation are to be returned to the country at the end of this year.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof. Jumanne Maghembe, said at the official opening of a workshop on Population and Habitat Viability Assessment held in Bagamoyo that the government decided to send the endangered toads to the US due to environmental and ecological problems then facing Kihansi Gorge.
The minister`s speech was read by the Bagamoyo District Commissioner, Serenge Mrengo, on his behalf.
Lives of these toads became difficult because of decreased volume of water triggered by electricity production, fueling a prolonged tug of war between environmentalists and power stakeholders and experts.
While environmentalists pushed for conducive environment for toads` survival, power stakeholders said electricity-production should be given priority, hence the government`s decision to send them to the US for protection.
“Currently, we have more than 450 toads housed in US-based zoos. But we are planning to return the species in phases at the end of this year,” said Maghembe.
According to the minister, if the captive population in the US zoos continues to double, Tanzania would have to establish its own captive population by the end of this year.
“We cannot return all of them at once because anything can happen on the way…we may end up losing the whole generation,” he added.
Reduced volume of water caused by Kihansi hydro-power plant as well as human activities, led to a sharp decline in the population of Kihansi toads` in 2003.
“In 2002 and 2003, the Kihansi spray toads` population grew to an estimated number of 21,000. Unfortunately, the number crumbled to a few 50 individuals due to human activities and other factors,” said the minister.
Other factors that contributed to reduced number of toads included release of toxic substances which were accumulating due to water reservoir sedimentation.
“Chytrid fungus also played a role in the decline of these toads, one of the most threatened in the world,” noted the minister.
Chytrid fungus is an exotic fungus that is decimating amphibians` population worldwide and that has also caused havoc to amphibians in Australia recently.
The minister said these ecological factors prevented the re-introduction of the captive Kihansi spray toads` population into its natural habitat during the implementation of Lower Kihansi Environmental Management Project (LKEMP).
“The management of the captive population of the spray toads was a critical challenge,” Maghembe said.
While in US, the toads were kept in captive in Bronz zoo in New York and Toledo zoo in Ohio.
However, LKEMP National Coordinator, Dr Wilfred Salindai said the toads were doing well in US zoos, and that the government was sorting out arrangements for their return.
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