Harlequin Toads x Conservation Across Continents

Join Manchester Museum for a night of music, food and drink as the Vivarium launches its brand-new Variable Harlequin frog exhibit. A showcase of the museum’s joint commitment to the conservation of one of the world’s rarest species.

Variable harlequin toads are small in size but huge in significance. Originating from Panama and Costa Rica, their population has experienced drastic declines in recent years, and they are classed as critically endangered.

In 2019 we began recreating the exact conditions of the toad’s Panamanian habitat and in 2020, in a moment of triumph, the team found a cluster of eggs among the rocks in the tank. One of the world’s most endangered and beautiful toads had been successfully bred at Manchester Museum.

This success, and the museum’s brand-new exhibit of variable harlequin toads, is the result of an inspiring partnership project between Manchester Museum, the University of Manchester and Panama Wildlife Conservation charity. The exhibition is a celebration the partnership and its ongoing commitment to conservation.