Chicken Frogs flown from Montserrat to flee deadly fungus

By DANICA COTO

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Scientists are airlifting dozens of one of the world's largest frogs off of Montserrat island to save them from a deadly fungus devastating their dwindling habitat.

The dense forest of the tiny British Caribbean territory is the last remaining stronghold of the endangered mountain chicken frog, a 2-pound, frying pan-size amphibian that got its name because locals say its meat tastes like — you guessed it — chicken.

Once eaten as a delicacy, the frog was hunted and much of its habitat on Montserrat was destroyed by the temperamental Soufriere Hills volcano. Now experts fear a virulent fungus could decimate the few thousand frogs they estimate survive.

"Its impact has been catastrophic," Andrew Cunningham, senior scientist with the Zoological Society of London, said of the Chytridiomycosis fungus. "The mountain chicken frog has been virtually wiped out."

http://www.freep.com/article/20090508/NEWS07/90508079