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Artificial Misting System Allows Reintroduction of Extinct Toad

Posted by samzenpus on from the spritzing-back-to-life dept.

terrancem writes "The Kihansi Spray Toad went extinct in the wild in 2005 when its habitat in Tanzania was destroyed by a dam. However conservationists at the Bronx Zoo managed to maintain a captive population which is now large enough to allow a bold experiment to move forward: reintroducing the toad into its old habitat. To make the once tropical gorge moist again, engineers have designed an artificial misting system that should allow toads to survive in the wild. The effort marks what may be the first time conservationists have ever re-established an 'extinct' species in a human-engineered ecosystem."

4 of 121 comments (clear)

  1. A very unusual toad by serviscope_minor · · Score: 5, Interesting

    These toads are very unusual. The noise of the waterfall makes croking an impractical method of communication. They instead use hand signals to communicate.

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    SJW n. One who posts facts.
    1. Re:A very unusual toad by Loosifur · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, but the resulting juxtaposition just does weird things to you after awhile. You start getting some funny ideas when you see Kermit on television, that sort of thing.

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  2. Re:Extinct? by Rockoon · · Score: 5, Funny

    The lesson that we can take away from this is that good editors should have been kept in zoos too.

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    "His name was James Damore."
  3. Re:Extinct? by davmoo · · Score: 5, Informative

    The editors are correct. It very clearly says "extinct in the wild". "In the wild" does not include "in captivity".

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    I want a new quote. One that won't spill. One that don't cost too much. Or come in a pill.