Hula Painted Frog

The Hula painted frog (Latonia nigriventer) is one of the world's rarest amphibians and one of Israel’s most extraordinary conservation success stories.

Endemic to the Hula Valley in northern Israel, this remarkable species was first described in 1940 and last observed in the wild in 1955. After decades of unsuccessful searches, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) officially declared it extinct in 1996. Then, on November 15, 2011, a single frog was discovered entirely by chance, stunning the scientific community and rewriting the species’ history. Subsequent geneticand morphological research revealed an even more remarkable finding: the Hulapainted frog is a living fossil. It belongs to the ancient genus Latonia, a lineage believed to have disappeared after the last Ice Age. Today, Latoniani griventer is the only surviving representative of this once widespread group, making it a species of exceptional scientific and conservation importance.

Despite its rediscovery, the Hula painted frogremains Critically Endangered. Using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques,researchers have confirmed that it survives in only a handful of ponds and waterways within the Hula Valley, all of which are heavily influenced by human activity. The entire wild population is estimated to number only a few hundred individuals.

The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, in close partnership with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, is proud to lead one of the world's first ex situ conservation programs for this extraordinary amphibian. A dedicated breeding and conservation center has been established at the Zoo to provide a secure backup population while advancing scientific understanding ofthe species. By studying its biology, behavior, ecology, and reproductive cycle, researchers are laying the groundwork for future captive breeding efforts and developing new tools to help protect the remaining wild population. Thispioneering work not only provides an essential safety net for one of Israel's rarest animals but also generates critical knowledge that supports the conservation of its fragile natural habitat.

The Hula painted frog is a large, distinctive amphibian with a short, rounded tongue - a feature that inspired its Hebrew name. Visitors can observe this elusive species in a specially designed habitat that recreates the unique wetlands of the Hula Valley, complete with nativevegetation and a naturalistic pool that provides shelter and breeding sites. The exhibit, located near the National Raptor Incubation Center, offers a rare opportunity to encounter a species once thought lost forever and to learn about the remarkable story of its rediscovery through an accompanying video presentation.

The return of the Hula painted frog from extinction reminds us that nature can still surprise us - and that dedicated conservation efforts can help ensure that even the rarest species have a future.

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Photo: Ruth Cohen