“In its native South Africa, Redbush is often clinically prescribed for skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis, thanks to the presence of two key antioxidants - quercetin and luteolin. Having been used to treat skin for centuries, it comes as no surprise to us that Redbush's healing powers extend to these beautiful frogs, and we're really delighted to be able to help with this fantastic programme." - Marie Hayes, Redbush Tea Company
Columbian golden poison frog's being reared in cups of redbush tea by WWT
Image: WWT
The world’s most poisonous frog is being reared in a cup of redbush tea at Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
The Columbian golden poison frog can carry enough poison in its skin to kill between 10 and 20 humans or up to 10,000 mice. But the poison has no effect on fungal infections, which frogs’ skins are prone to - so the clever amphibian keeper at Slimbridge Wetland Centre is rearing the tadpoles in cups of tea from the Redbush Tea Company. Redbush tea contains a number of antioxidants which are claimed to help fight infections, as well as minerals including zinc which helps the renewal of skin cells.
WWT Amphibian keeper Jay Redbond says: “Redbush tea is really helping to ward off the skin infections which these beautiful and endangered little frogs are very vulnerable to.
“A friend at Paignton Zoo suggested the technique. I was a little cautious at first as the animal’s welfare always come first. But I now have fully mature adults which were reared in redbush tea and they are doing great.
“As scary as poison frogs sound, they are great to have on show. They’re awake in the day – many other frogs are nocturnal - and they have few natural predators in the wild so they’re quite happy sitting in full view of people.
“Yes I do drink redbush tea myself. I just have to be more careful than most people at keeping track of which cup I’m drinking out of.”
Redbush Tea Company Director Marie Hayes commented: “In its native South Africa, Redbush is often clinically prescribed for skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis, thanks to the presence of two key antioxidants - quercetin and luteolin. Having been used to treat skin for centuries, it comes as no surprise to us that Redbush's healing powers extend to these beautiful frogs, and we're really delighted to be able to help with this fantastic programme.”
Sadly the redbush tea doesn’t appear to prevent a particularly damaging skin fungus called Chytrid which, alongside habitat destruction, is threatening many amphibian species in the wild, including poison frogs. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust is working to protect wetlands and all the species which form part of their ecosystem, including amphibians. Captive populations are becoming more important as a safety net for species threatened with extinction.
The poison frogs at Slimbridge Wetland Centre are part of one of the biggest collections of amphibians in the UK. Families visiting this summer holidays will be able to get close to a range of British and global species and there are amphibian talks every afternoon.
Columbian golden poison frog facts:
Slimbridge Wetland Centre is often called the birthplace of modern conservation. The founder, Sir Peter Scott, pioneered the idea that we need to take action to save wetlands and their wildlife. He established WWT to do this in two ways: By being a world leader in wetland conservation; and by inspiring others to care by giving everyone the opportunity to get close to wetlands and their wildlife.
www.wwt.org.uk/visit/slimbridge
www.redbushtea.com
The Columbian golden poison frog can carry enough poison in its skin to kill between 10 and 20 humans or up to 10,000 mice. But the poison has no effect on fungal infections, which frogs’ skins are prone to - so the clever amphibian keeper at Slimbridge Wetland Centre is rearing the tadpoles in cups of tea from the Redbush Tea Company. Redbush tea contains a number of antioxidants which are claimed to help fight infections, as well as minerals including zinc which helps the renewal of skin cells.
WWT Amphibian keeper Jay Redbond says: “Redbush tea is really helping to ward off the skin infections which these beautiful and endangered little frogs are very vulnerable to.
“A friend at Paignton Zoo suggested the technique. I was a little cautious at first as the animal’s welfare always come first. But I now have fully mature adults which were reared in redbush tea and they are doing great.
“As scary as poison frogs sound, they are great to have on show. They’re awake in the day – many other frogs are nocturnal - and they have few natural predators in the wild so they’re quite happy sitting in full view of people.
“Yes I do drink redbush tea myself. I just have to be more careful than most people at keeping track of which cup I’m drinking out of.”
Redbush Tea Company Director Marie Hayes commented: “In its native South Africa, Redbush is often clinically prescribed for skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis, thanks to the presence of two key antioxidants - quercetin and luteolin. Having been used to treat skin for centuries, it comes as no surprise to us that Redbush's healing powers extend to these beautiful frogs, and we're really delighted to be able to help with this fantastic programme.”
Sadly the redbush tea doesn’t appear to prevent a particularly damaging skin fungus called Chytrid which, alongside habitat destruction, is threatening many amphibian species in the wild, including poison frogs. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust is working to protect wetlands and all the species which form part of their ecosystem, including amphibians. Captive populations are becoming more important as a safety net for species threatened with extinction.
The poison frogs at Slimbridge Wetland Centre are part of one of the biggest collections of amphibians in the UK. Families visiting this summer holidays will be able to get close to a range of British and global species and there are amphibian talks every afternoon.
Columbian golden poison frog facts:
- The golden poison frog is the world’s most poisonous frog: It covers its skin in poison secreted through glands in order to protect itself: It only uses the poison defensively, not to attack any other creatures.
- The family of frogs are often called poison dart frogs, because their poison has been used by South American tribes to tip darts or arrows used for hunting.
- The frogs don’t produce the poison themselves – they get the toxins from the food they eat in the wild.
- The frog’s bright colour warns off predators. This means the frog is particularly confident and will happily sit out in the open in full daylight.
- Golden poison frogs often rear their young tadpoles in pools of water which form in bromeliad plants which can grow high up in the forest canopy.
Slimbridge Wetland Centre is often called the birthplace of modern conservation. The founder, Sir Peter Scott, pioneered the idea that we need to take action to save wetlands and their wildlife. He established WWT to do this in two ways: By being a world leader in wetland conservation; and by inspiring others to care by giving everyone the opportunity to get close to wetlands and their wildlife.
www.wwt.org.uk/visit/slimbridge
www.redbushtea.com