Conservation Stories: Lake Titicaca Water Frog

This critically endangered species is the largest of the aquatic frogs, reaching up to 50cm in length and weighing up to 1kg.
It is endemic to the Lake Titicaca basin in the high Andes of Bolivia and Peru.
The Lake Titicaca Water Frog is severely threatened; populations have declined by 80% over the last 3 generations.
We are the main sponsor of a project being carried out by Stiftung Artenschutz to assess the threats and conservation status
of the Lake Titicaca Water Frog.

 The biggest challenges faced are over-exploitation, destruction of habitat
 and the introduction of non-native species. Lake Titicaca Water Frogs are among
several species traditionally collected and consumed by Locals.

 In Lima the frogs are prepared either in a soup or in
a frog "shake". It is also believed they have
medicinal properties and they are used as a
treatment for conditions varying from
headaches to epilepsy.

   Many local populations are unaware of the
dramatic decline in the Lake Titicaca Water
 Frogs numbers.

The conservation project we are funding
 will be concerned with raising
 public awareness of
 the plight of this
 endearing frog.