Photograph: Gerardo Garcia/Chester Zoo/PA Mishal Husain finds out what steps Chester Zoo are taking to protect the species. The Mountain Chicken Frog’s First Problem: It Tastes Like… An ambitious reintroduction program aims to save this endangered, odd, gigantic frog. A population of 236 individuals survive in European institutions, 10 of which live here in Chester. Considered one of the world's largest frogs, it reaches lengths of eight inches and weighs up to two pounds. Leptodactylus fallax, commonly known as the mountain chicken or giant ditch frog is critically endangered. Mountain Chicken Frog Conservation at Chester Zoo - Dr Javier Lopez (Chester Zoo) Chester Zoo Mountain chicken frog Published in the journal Biological Conservation and conducted in partnership with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the University of Kent, Chester Zoo and the Government of Montserrat, the paper describes how the established antifungal drug itraconazole can be used to treat amphibians in the wild during periods of particular risk from chytrid outbreaks. Website designed and built by Ultimate . Chester Zoo is one of the European leaders in mountain chicken conservation breeding management. Similarly to many amphibian species around the globe, the fungal disease chytridmycosis is one of the main threats to the mountain chicken frog – there is currently no cure and it is very difficult to control its spread. It’s one of the world’s BIGGEST frogs, sometimes weighing in at more than a kilogram. The Zoological Society of London is working with the Government in Dominica to help conserve the critically endangered mountain chicken frog. The mountain chicken frog is among the top 10 reptiles and amphibians avoiding extinction with the help of zoos. We're not sure when that will be right now but promise it will arrive as soon as possible. The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Zoological Society of London (London Zoo) and the North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo) – all IUCN Members – together with Parken Zoo in Sweden have helped to rescue the frogs and created a breeding programme that has resulted in dozens of offspring. We'll post your adoption pack out to you as soon as the zoo reopens. Registered Charity No. No, it's not a bird! Chester Zoo . One approach has been to develop a captive breeding centre in Dominica to attempt to breed new, healthy frogs in … Mountain chicken. 3 Minute Read You’re more than welcome to take out an animal adoption and we really appreciate your support! Thank you. Alongside daily care and husbandry within the team she also conducts ongoing research into the physiology, reproduction and husbandry needs of the mountain chicken, providing the field team with valuable advice. Chester Zoo, Upton-by-Chester, Chester, CH2 1EU . The name mountain chicken comes from the frog's large size and the fact that it's hunted for food. 306077 . Mountain chicken frogs are the largest native species of frog in the Caribbean This unusually named, very rare frog is a critically endangered species on the brink of extinction . The first of the chicks began to break out of its shell on 25 June with 20 more arriving since, increasing the total number of Caribbean flamingos currently at the zoo to 120. The mountain chicken is also seriously threatened by their use as a food source for local people. The zoo is closed at the moment. Dr Gerardo Garcia (Curator of Lower Vertebrates and Invertebrates and ESB Mountain Chicken Studbook Owner) Over the last few years, our teams have studied every detail of feeding and breeding this species, from fertility and diet protocols to disease control.