Is the blue poison dart frog an endangered species?
The fact that the blue poison frog is endemic to a specific area in Suriname makes it very vulnerable indeed. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species currently lists it as a Vulnerable species. The justification for that is that it is only found in “one locality and it occurs only in forest fragments that are threatened by forest fire.” (10) The IUCN also states that though there is still some illegal collection of the blue poison dart frogs for the international pet trade, it is no longer a serious threat as this species is now extensively bred in captivity. (11) Specifically, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, USA, initiated a very successful captive-breeding programme which now involves more than 20 other institutions.
