Global frog populations are in rapid decline, adversely affected by factors including climate change, pollution, infectious diseases and habitat loss. At FROM THE BRINK, we are supporting the work of Save Ghana Frogs, who have been working since 2011 to protect the critically endangered Giant Squeaker Frog (Arthroleptis Krokosua.)

The Giant Squeaker Frog is the largest squeaker frog species (though at only 5cm long, giant is something of a misnomer!) and one of the world’s rarest frogs. Less that 50 individuals have been recorded since its discovery in 2002, and nearly all sightings have occurred in just one location, western Ghana’s Sui River Forest Reserve. Despite such low numbers, the species was only recategorized as critically endangered in 2019, after years of campaigning by conservation group SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana.

The Sui Forest Reserve is a 334km 2 semi-evergreen hilly forest that is part of the Upper Guinea Forest Block. It is a production forest, meaning logging, farming and small-scale mining are still permitted. These activities have bought with them invasive species and recurrent wildfires.

Ghana has lost over 90% of its original forest cover, meaning those surviving pockets are of even greater importance as global biodiversity hotspots. Despite its ecological importance, the Sui Forest Reserve is one of the country’s most poorly researched forest, and a lack of proper management could allow rapid destruction of this critical habitat.

Save Ghana Frogs aims to increase the knowledge of the biodiversity in the forest, through detailed fauna assessments and present this as evidence for the need to designate the reserve as Globally Significant Biodiversity Area. Practical conservation work, including the clearing of invasive weeds and the planting of native tree species, is also undertaken, and a Giant Squeaker Frog Action plan is in development to restore population numbers.

At FROM THE BRINK our mission is to support local threatened species. Whilst Ghana’s Giant Squeaker Frog are not local to us, it is local to Gilbert Adum and the team at Save Ghana Frogs, who dedicate their time to ensuring the survival of both the frog and the habitat that supports it. We are happy to be a very small part of this mission.