Mountain chicken frog

World's biggest frog

Mountain chickens are one of the biggest frogs on the planet, weighing in over 40 times the size of European common frogs which can be regularly be seen in gardens. There are now just around 21 mountain chicken frogs remaining in the wild, as an amphibian fungus epidemic wiped out over 99% of their population when it arrived in 2002. 

At the Zoo we're breeding mountain chickens to help recover their populations, while carrying out scientific research to discover the solution to the deadly fungus that nearly wiped them out forever. 

 Frog parental care

These frogs care for their young, as pairs produce a foam nest to lay their eggs into. The tadpoles are then fed unfertilised eggs by the female to feed on during their development, producing between 10,000-25,000 eggs. 

Mountain chicken conservation

Our conservationists along with other conservation zoos helped save the species from extinction in 2009, by airlifting them to the safety of a dedicated breeding facility. Today we're continuing to work to restore mountain chicken frogs, through leading scientific research and breeding them at a Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians.