About Project Golden Frog
Project Golden Frog/Proyecto Rana Dorada (PGF/PRD) began in 1998 as a cooperative consortium between several United States and Panamanian institutions as a response to the predicted impacts of the impending amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (B.d.) in central Panama.
The founders, Roberto Ibanez, Ph.D. (of University of Panama/Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute), Erik Lindquist, Ph.D. (of Lee University at the time) Anthony Wisnieski (formerly of the Baltimore Zoo), and Kevin Zippel, Ph.D. (formerly of the Detroit Zoo; currently leading IUCN's Amphibian Ark), wisely focused their attention on one species, Atelopus zeteki, which would be lost to the killer fungus within a few years due to its montane locality and low disease-resistance.
PGF/PRD's primary goal to preserve the culturally-significant golden frog though an ex situ conservation breeding program, field studies, and educational programs has made the attractive frog a flagship species for amphibian decline issues within Panama and become a model for similar efforts worldwide.
Current PGF/PRD personnel include the following:
- Vicky Poole (Fort Worth Zoo) – PGF/PRD & PGF SSP Coordinator
- Kevin Barrett (Maryland Zoo in Baltimore) – SSP Vice Coordinator & Population Manager
- Heidi Ross (EVACC) – Panama PGF Population Manager & In-country specialist
- Claire Lannoye-Hall (Detroit Zoological Society) – Education Advisor
- Ellen Bronson, DVM (Maryland Zoo in Baltimore) – Vet Advisor
- Eduardo Valdez, PhD (Disney) – Nutrition Advisor
- Andy Kouba, PhD (Mississippi State University) – Assisted Reproduction Advisor
- Tom Weaver (Denver Zoo) – Treasurer
- Robert Hill (Zoo Atlanta): Fundraising Coordinator
- Mark Mandica (The Amphibian Foundation): Website Designer & Manager
Our wonderfully committed consultants are:
- Erik Lindquist, Ph.D., Project Consultant
- Roberto Ibanez, Ph.D., Project Consultant
Our generous contributing photographers are:
- Joel Sartore | Photo Ark
- Bill Hughes
- Vicky Poole
- C. Richards-Zawacki
- N. Ellis
- Mark Beshel
- Edgardo Griffith
- Meredith Whitney
- Atelopus zeteki illustration by Mark Mandica
Thanks for the endeavors and support from past coordinators and advisors:
- Erik Lindquist, Ph.D. (Founder)
- Anthony Wisnieski (Founder)
- Kevin Zippel, Ph.D. (Founder)
- Kevin Wright, DVM
- Rick Haeffner
- Meredith Whitney
- Kevin Murphy
- Bill Hughes