In late 2018, they spearheaded the formation of an 864-acre reserve-the Onepone Endangered Species Refuge-that is now co-owned and managed entirely by local communities, and which has since expanded to 12,000 acres to include a sustainable use zone. Ofori-Boateng and others at Herp-Ghana spent a decade tirelessly building relationships with residents of villages and towns in the Togo-Volta forests and convincing them of the value of amphibian conservation. While in the field, he encountered illegal logging and hunting, and he realized he and other researchers had to act to save critically endangered species like the Togo slippery frog from extinction. The last population assessment in 2020 across Togo and Ghana indicated the existence of around 249 individuals, with the entire Ghanaian population dwelling exclusively in the Togo-Volta highlands.īack in 2006, during his quests to document and discover the frogs of Togo and Ghana, Ofori-Boateng set up Herp-Ghana, a nonprofit that is West Africa’s first amphibian-focused conservation group. Indeed, the Togo slippery frog is ranked 18th on a list of the 100 most evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered amphibians. “It’s totally unique, and there’s no other frog left on the planet like it,” he says. Ofori-Boateng picked the frog up and held it in his hands, but once he loosened his grip, the amphibian leapt gracefully away. The herpetologist had seen more than 40 species of frogs, but the Togo slippery frog stood out because of its beautiful whistling call, which it made while calmly sitting in water. “I was amazed by its perfect dark pupils that were surrounded by seemingly pure gold,” he says. The frog, a roughly three-inch-long creature with brown skin, had eyes that captivated Ofori-Boateng. Ofori-Boateng’s dream finally came true on a late evening in March 2013, when he spotted a frog close to a waterfall outside the town of Amedzofe. But Ofori-Boateng was not present for this leg of the expedition, and for years, he wondered if he would ever get to see the frog in his home country. After that first recorded sighting since 1980, scientists documented a few more Togo slippery frogs in the Togo-Volta region of Ghana. The frog sat in a shallow stream by a forest near the Togolese village of Missahohé. But in April 2007, toward the end of an arduous three-week expedition to assess the amphibians of southern Ghana and western Togo, Ghana’s first formally trained herpetologist, Caleb Ofori-Boateng, finally spotted one. Over five millennia, human hunting, fishing and habitat destruction decimated populations. Fitting in a quick workout between Zoom meetings has never felt easier (or chicer), and starting my day already halfway ready to meet friends for a quick tennis match after work is a total ace.The Togo slippery frog was thought to be extinct. This Girlfriend Collective moss skort holds a holy grail status in my workweek wardrobe. I buy mine several sizes too large-both to ensure they are ultra-opaque and to make them comfortable for sitting in all day. As someone who prefers to wear skirts and dresses all year long, an indestructible pair of black tights is essential (this pair is also mostly sustainable, as they’re made from recycled nylon). Plus, they layer easily for any occasion. I dare you to find anything softer than these, which means you will always be reaching for them no matter what season, what mood. Not only are they relatively affordable (especially considering how often I wear them), but they also use less water in the dyeing process than traditional denim-a purchase I would make again and again! When it comes to workhorses, touch is key. The super-high waist is beyond flattering, and I love the Fly Frogs Save The Frogs shirt besides I will buy this classic no-stretch, straight-leg style. My Levi’s Wellthread jeans are my go-to pair for every occasion. Fly Frogs Save The Frogs shirt, hoodie, tank top, sweater and long sleeve t-shirt I’m picking up a few similar cardigans for my #WFH winter, starting with this one in a mood-boosting shade of orchid. It’s also made from a supersoft yarn, which is hard to find at this price point. It’s cozy, but not chunky, and it isn’t so oversized that I feel sloppy. I have a black Madewell cardigan that I reach for almost daily. Every year, I give them some TLC to get them bright again (though I like them a bit scuffed up). My trusty pair have accompanied me to dark, sweaty parties with thumping music (many moons ago), long walks on the Irish countryside, New York Fashion Week, and countless other events, high and low. White Chuck Taylor high-tops are the Fly Frogs Save The Frogs shirt besides I will buy this perfect chameleon shoe.
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