A new exhibit opens today at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, and the star is one of the rarest amphibians in the world.

Panamanian Golden Frogs are considered extinct in their native habitat due to a deadly fungus that has spread to their environment. Even so, Panamanians revere the golden frog as a symbol of good luck and it is a true icon in Panama the same way that the bald eagle is in the United States. In fact, the golden frog likeness appears all over Panama from it’s currency to lottery tickets.

Panamanian golden frogs are also the subjects of one of the zoo’s most ambitious conservation projects. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is a founding member of Project Golden Frog, a multinational and multi-institutional conservation initiative that supports research and rescue efforts of golden frogs and other endangered amphibian species in Panama. The Maryland Zoo was the first institution to breed golden frogs successfully in captivity, and has been at the forefront of breeding and husbandry efforts ever since. The “Panamanian Golden Frog Conservation Center” is located in the zoo’s Animal Hospital, where the staff has raised several hundred frogs each year, distributing offspring to other institutions.

The exhibit will be located in The Chimpanzee Forest in the zoo’s African Journey section. While not an African species, the Panamanian Golden Frog lives in a jungle climate similar to that of chimps in the wild; this temperature controlled building was the best fit for our new exhibit.

A dedication ceremony takes place this morning that includes a visit from representatives from the Embassy of Panama.

Visit www.marylandzoo.org for more information.