Beloved wildlife in Dominica still shaky after 2017 hurricane
ROSEAU ( Dominica): “Sad” parrots and “stressed-out” frogs might be unlikely contenders for concern in the aftermath of a catastrophic natural disaster.
But the fate of two of Dominica’s most prized species are still a source of worry a year after Hurricane Maria tore apart the tiny Caribbean island.
Dominica’s famously lush forests are slowly coming back to life after the worst destruction in the country’s history, prompting a return of the intriguing creatures that call them home.
The sisserou parrot and the mountain chicken frog – both national emblems and endangered – have grown notably more scarce, however.
“The impact on their habitat affects everything, from their feeding habits to their stress levels and the way they relate to each other,” forestry officer Bradley Guye said.
The endemic sisserou – at the centre of the national flag – was badly hit by the 257kph winds.
Up to half of the estimated 400 birds left in the wild may have been lost, according to Guye.
The parrots mate for life, are said to be extremely faithful to each other and even grieve for a lost partner.
The sisserou birds are still reeling from Maria’s onslaught: “Just like humans, some animals want to feel loved and comforted when they’ve suffered trauma, which can lead to exaggerated mating,” Guye said.
Exacerbating the parrots’ plight was the loss of Dominica’s abundant fresh fruit trees, an important food source.
Apples, pears and grapes were flown in especially for them. Fruit was left at strategic locations in the wild and brought to a breeding centre in the capital, Roseau.
The centre has been working to increase the numbers of both the birds and the frogs.
The critically endangered mountain chicken frog was once the national dish, gaining its name from its chicken-like taste. But a deadly fungal disease has taken the frog to the brink of extinction in recent years.
Dubbed the “crapaud” – French for “toad” – the frogs are unusually large, breed in underground burrows, and have a distinctive mating call that is somewhere between a “whoop” and a bark. “We have been to their usual sites and heard their calls so we know there is still some activity,” Guye said. “But their habitat was badly damaged and some relocated.”
“The skin disease combined with the storm means their status is very shaky.”