We’ve also introduced more ‘foggers’ to maintain humidity without causing the habitat to become too wet. This mimics how the mist rolls off the hills at Pureora Forest, one of the wild sites where the species lives and where we assist the Department of Conservation (DOC) in their conservation fieldwork.
“It’s the secrets they hold that are so intriguing! These nocturnal frogs live deep in the forest, and so little is known about them. We know the basics of their habitat needs, size and food requirements but there are things we don’t know yet. One question we have is: does the male find the female or does the male choose a nest site and the female chooses him?
All of this and more we are hoping to uncover at Auckland Zoo, so we can protect the species for future generations. The more we learn about what Archey’s frogs need within the Zoo, the more we understand how to conserve them in the wild. We’re looking forward to heading out for more fieldwork with DOC early next year,” explains senior ectotherm keeper Nick.
We’re shining a light on some Aotearoa species this week for #ConservationWeek – come along to the Zoo and see some national icons.
