Recently researchers at the Chester Zoo have begun using a new method for tagging the golden mantella frog. Mantella aurantiaca is a critically endangered species. This tiny bright orange frog is native to Madagascar; where it can be found in high altitude swamps. The pet trade and even more so habitat fragmentation have devastated this species. The land surrounding this frogs preferred habitat has been destroyed by construction; fragmenting the remaining populations of the species. Researchers are hoping that using fluorescent tagging will help conservation efforts. The frogs tagged by injecting them with a tiny amount of coloured fluorescent silicone subcutaneously. This gives the animals a fluorescent stripe on their leg which makes them easier to monitor in the wild. The team is going to Madagascar to tag and track wild populations in order to determine which areas should be protected. Hopefully this technique will help to stop habitat fragmentation of the frogs. Losing such a beautiful species would be very unfortunate.

                                      

-Kailey Walsh