In November 2025, London Zoo also became the first institution in the world to breed the Atewa slippery frog in human care.
Ben Tapley, the zoo’s curator of reptiles and amphibians, said: “With both frog species facing an imminent risk of extinction, but limited experience in amphibian care and difficulties obtaining specialist equipment locally, it was decided that a population of the frogs should be moved to ZSL’s London Zoo to learn as much as possible about these species while we still have the time.
Amphibian keeper Unnar Aevarsson also travelled to Ghana to help establish what conservationists say is West Africa’s first dedicated amphibian conservation facility.
Researchers collected water samples and images of local vegetation to recreate the frogs’ natural environment in both Ghana and London.
Conservationists hope the programme will eventually allow captive-bred frogs to be reintroduced into protected habitats in the wild.
The frogs went on public display at London Zoo on Friday.
