Supporting budding young conservationists

We’re delighted to share an update from Dr Eric Flores, Programmes Manager at Panama Wildlife Conservation Charity (PWCC).

To celebrate the day and month of the variable harlequin frogs (Atelopus varius) in Panama a group of students from the Technical Secondary School of Rio Luis in Santa Fe prepared a set of murals describing the Harlequin frog’s biology, threats and conservation needs. These murals were presented to the school and community on the 14th of August 2025, with special thanks to Prof. Phillip Davies of the Rio Luis School.

Later that month PWCC facilitated these budding young conservationists to visit the fantastic facilities of the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project (PARC), managed by STRI in Gamboa, Panama City. Whilst there they were guided around the collections and introduced to the brilliant work of the unit thanks to Dr. Roberto Ibañez from the PARC project.

These activities were supported directly by the funds generated by our generous sponsors here at Manchester Museum, so a big thank you to you all. I must also express my thanks to Eric, Luis and all the team at PWCC, our main conservation partners and who continue to do brilliant work across Panama.

In our upcoming newsletters we will hope to bring you more news of exciting developments from PWCC and their work in the Santa Fe National park to monitor and protect the critically endangered variable harlequin frog.