Assessment Results
Leptopelis occidentalis
Tai Forest Treefrog, Western Tree Frog
Order:
Anura
Family:
Arthroleptidae
Synonym(s):
Assessed for:
Ghana
on:
21 Sep 2021
by:
AArk/ASG Ghana Assessment Workshop
Authors:
Adum, G., Kouamé, N.G., Ofori-Boateng, C. and Penner, J.
IUCN Global Red List:
Near Threatened (NT)
National Red List:
(not assessed)
Distribution:
Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria (Presence Uncertain)
Evolutionary Distinctiveness score:
15.05479679
Recommended Conservation Actions:
Additional Comments:
| Question # | Short Name | Question Text | Response | Comments |
| 1 | Extinction risk | Current IUCN Red List category. [Data obtained from the IUCN Red List.] | Vulnerable (VU) | This species was listed as Near Threatened because, although it is still relatively widely distributed (ca 146,698 km2), it depends on areas of undisturbed forest habitat which are becoming more and more uncommon in the region as there is ongoing decline of these forests, its area of occupancy is estimated to be 176 km2 and its population is suspected to be in decline. Tentatively re-listed as Vulnerable. |
| 2 | Possibly extinct | Is there a strong possibility that this species might be extinct in the wild? | No / unlikely | |
| 3 | Phylogenetic significance | The taxon’s Evolutionary Distinctiveness (ED) score, as generated by the ZSL EDGE program. (These data are not editable by Assessors). | ED value < 20 | |
| 4 | Protected habitat | Is a population of at least 50% of the individuals of the taxon included within a well-managed or reliably protected area or areas? | Yes / probably | It is found in several protected areas in Ghana, including Yaya Forest Reserve (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012) and Sui River Forest Reserve. It is also known from Mamang River Forest Reserve (C. Ofori-Boateng, pers. comm. September 2021). It possibly occurs in Atewa Forest Reserve, but further taxonomic work is required to confirm this (C. Ofori-Boateng, pers. comm. September 2021). |
| 5 | Habitat for reintroduction, conservation translocation or supplementation | Does enough well-managed and reliably protected habitat exist, either within or outside of currently protected areas that is suitable for conservation translocation, including population restoration or conservation introduction? | Yes / probably | This species occurs in central Ghana. Its presence in Atewa Forest Reserve and Mamang River Forest Reserve has been reported, but is uncertain (C. Ofori-Boateng, pers. comm. September 2021). It is found from approximately sea level to 200 m asl. It is quite well surveyed and the range is well documented; it is therefore unlikely to occur in other areas (M.-O. Rödel pers. comm. June 2012). It is known from numerous sites. Although its range covers a large area (ca 146,698 km2), its area of occupancy (AOO) based on a 4 km2 cell is estimated to be 176 km2 (J. Penner pers. comm. September 2013). |
| 6 | Previous reintroductions | Have reintroduction or translocation attempts been made in the past for this species? | No | |
| 7 | In situ conservation activities | Are any in situ conservation actions currently in place for this species? (Only required if a Red List Assessment has not been completed, or if new actions have been implemented since the last Red List Assessment. (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.). | Yes / probably | It is found in several national parks and protected areas in Ghana. |
| 8 | In situ conservation activities | Are additional in situ conservation actions required to help conserve this species in the wild (e.g. habitat restoration and/or protection, control of invasive species, national legislation etc.)? | Yes / probably | Ongoing and improved management of protected areas is required including forest restoration, enforcement of protected area boundaries, the provision of livelihood alternatives for locals to reducing mining activities, and additional resource provision for the protection of existing protected areas [e.g. equipment such as cars and fuel provision] (G. Adum and J. Penner pers. comm. September 2021). The protection of all remaining forest and freshwater habitats in the region is also urgently required (N.G. Kouamé, pers. comm., September 2021). |
| 9 | In situ research | Is additional in situ research required to better understand the species, e.g. distribution, population trends, natural history etc.? | Yes | Research on its population is needed (M.-O. Rödel pers. comm. June 2012). Taxonomic work is necessary for the subpopulation in Atewa to confirm its identity, which are larger in size for the species and an unusual colouration (C. Ofori-Boateng, pers. comm. September 2021). |
| 10 | Threat mitigation | Are the threats facing the taxon, including any new and emerging threats not considered in the IUCN Red List, potentially reversible? | Threats are likely to be reversible in time frame to prevent further decline / extinction | The majority of records are from undisturbed primary forest, but some records are also from slightly disturbed forest (N.G. Kouame pers. comm. June 2012 and J. Penner, pers. comm., September 2021). It is unlikely to tolerate large habitat disturbances. Habitat destruction caused by deforestation for agricultural expansion (including cacao plantations) and logging are the primary threats to this species. These activities include surface water extraction and drainage for agriculture. It is also threatened in Ghana by Artisanal and large-scale gold mining (G. Adum, G. and J. Penner, pers. comm., 2021), which also contributes to forest loss and pollution in stream habitats (G. Adum, pers. comm., September 2021). Agrochemicals are heavily used in Ghana, including in farmland areas within the forests (G. Adum, pers. comm., September, 2021). Increasing development for human settlements is another threat throughout Ghana (G. Adum, pers. comm., September 2021). Hill sanctuaries across Ghana were more secure in 2009, but observations since 2016 have confirmed that habitat degradation and loss are now occurring within these areas (G. Adum pers. comm. September 2021). Multiple threats currently exist in the Sui River Forest Reserve. Large-scale selective logging (both legally and illegally) and deforestation for cacao plantations (G. Adum, pers. comm., September 2021) - in 2021, the government allowed 15 ha of the 333.9 km² Sui River Forest Reserve to be cleared (G. Adum and J. Penner, pers. comm., September 2021). Other threats include the use of agrochemicals, gold mining, encroachment due to over-population, wildfires as a result of slash and burn activities and the spread of the invasive weed (Chromolaena odorata), (Ghana RLA/CNA assessment workshop, 2021). Large-scale selective logging is occurring throughout the reserve, which has resulted in areas becoming more accessible and led to a recent increase in illegal commercial logging activities (G. Adum, pers. comm., September 2021). |
| 11 | Over-collection from the wild | Is the taxon suffering from collection within its natural range, either for food, for the pet trade or for any other reason, which threatens the species’ continued persistence in the wild? | No / unlikely | |
| 12 | Population recovery | Is the known population of this species in the wild large enough to recover naturally, without ex situ intervention if threats are mitigated? | Yes / probably | It can be found regularly but is found in low numbers in suitable habitats (N.G. Kouamé and J. Penner, pers. comm., September 2021). The population might be decreasing as the species depends on good forest (M.-O. Rödel pers. comm. June 2012). While it occurs in forest patches and all known individuals are in fragmented forest patches, it is not known whether the species is able to move between these patches (J. Penner, pers. comm. September 2013, 2021). |
| 13 | Action plans | Does an Action Plan for the species already exist, or is one currently being developed? | No | |
| 14 | Biological distinctiveness | Does the taxon exhibit a distinctive reproductive mode, behaviour, aspect of morphology or physiology, within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.)? | No aspect of biology known to be exceptional | |
| 15 | Cultural/socio-economic importance | Does the taxon have a special human cultural value (e.g. as a national or regional symbol, in a historic context, featuring in traditional stories) or economic value (e.g. food, traditional medicine, tourism) within its natural range or in a wider global context? | No | |
| 16 | Scientific importance | Is the species vital to current or planned research other than species-specific ecology/biology/conservation within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.) e.g. human medicine, climate change, environmental pollutants and conservation science? | No research dependent on this species | |
| 17 | Ex situ research | Does conserving this species (or closely related species) in situ depend upon research that can be most easily carried out ex situ? | No | |
| 18 | Ex situ conservation activities | Is any ex situ research or other ex situ conservation action currently in place for this species? (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.) | No / unlikely | |
| 19 | Husbandry analog required | If an ex situ rescue program is recommended for this species, would an analog species be required to develop husbandry protocols first? | Yes / probably | Leptopelis flavomaculatus and Leptopelis vermiculatus have been maintained in a number of US and European zoos (ZIMS). |
| 20 | Husbandry analog | Do the biological and ecological attributes of this species make it suitable for developing husbandry regimes for more threatened related species? i.e. could this species be used in captivity to help to develop husbandry and breeding protocols which could be used for a similar, but more endangered species at a later stage? | No | |
| 21 | Captive breeding | Has this species been successfully bred and/or maintained in captivity? | Not held in captivity to date | |
| 22 | Conservation education/ecotourism potential | Is the species especially diurnal, active or colourful, or is there an interesting or unusual aspect of its ecology that make it particularly suitable to be an educational ambassador for conservation of the species in the range country, either in zoos or aquariums or within ecotourism activities? | Yes | This is a very charismatic species, and although difficult to find in the wild, and could be used for education purposes (Ghana RLA/CNA assessment workshop, 2021). |
| 23 | Mandate | Is there an existing conservation mandate recommending the ex situ conservation of this taxon? | No | |
| 24 | Range State approval | If an ex situ initiative was proposed for this species, would it be supported (and approved) by the range State (either within the range State or out-of-country ex situ)? | Yes / probably | |
| 25 | Founder specimens | Are sufficient animals of the taxon available or potentially available (from wild or captive sources) to initiate an ex situ program, if one was recommended? | Yes / probably | Although numbers are high enough in the wild, collecting sufficient founders would require considerable effort (J. Penner, pers. comm., September 2021). |
| 26 | Taxonomic status | Has a complete taxonomic analysis of the species in the wild been carried out, to fully understand the functional unit you wish to conserve (i.e. have species limits been determined)? | Yes |
Citation:
Adum, G., Kouamé, N.G., Ofori-Boateng, C. and Penner, J. 2021. Conservation Needs Assessment for Leptopelis occidentalis, Ghana
(AArk/ASG Ghana Assessment Workshop).
https://conservationneeds.org/assessment/6918
Accessed 23 Jan 2025
