Taipei Fine Arts Museum

Taipei Zoo is participating in the endangered species conservation action plan led by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Biodiversity Research Institute. By rescuing tadpoles from drying wild habitats and bringing them back to the zoo for care and captive breeding, the team is gradually establishing an ex-situ assurance population. Since 2023, Taipei Zoo has successfully raised over 2,000 Yuchi Music Froglets, with the goal of supporting the recovery of wild populations.

The Yuchi Music Frog (Nidirana shyhhuangi) was originally considered part of the Ryukyu Harp Frog complex. In February 2025, a research team from National Taiwan Normal University, the Biodiversity Research Institute, and the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute formally recognized Taiwan’s previously identified “harp frog” as a distinct species. Based on genetic, acoustic, and morphological evidence, the species was named after Professor Chen Shih-huang, who first discovered it.

Currently, the Yuchi Music Frog is found only in two wetlands in Nantou County—Lianhuachi and Sun Moon Lake. Its total habitat covers only about 0.015 square kilometers, with an estimated adult population of just 300 to 700 individuals. Due to its extremely restricted distribution and small population size, the species is listed as Nationally Critically Endangered (NCR) in the 2024 Red List of Amphibians of Taiwan. It is highly vulnerable to sudden environmental disturbances such as agricultural pollution, waste dumping, forest development, human interference, and extreme weather events. In 2022, Taipei Zoo received tadpoles rescued by the Biodiversity Research Institute during seasonal water level declines, when they were unable to return to aquatic habitats. The zoo began developing captive husbandry techniques and successfully initiated breeding in May 2023, aiming to establish a stable ex-situ satellite population.

The Yuchi Music Frog exhibits a unique nest-building behavior—males excavate pot-shaped mud nests and call from within to attract females for egg-laying. To support this behavior, the care team prepared moist, soft, adhesive soil, along with layered vegetation to create a structurally diverse environment. An automated misting system helps maintain humidity, while overturned coconut shells are used as shelters to provide secure spaces for nest construction. Keepers have observed that when sufficient cover is available, males do not expend additional effort to narrow the nest entrance, resulting in nests with wider openings.

While hatching success rates for eggs and tadpoles under ex-situ care remain a challenge, the specialized husbandry techniques and breeding setup have led to high levels of mating and spawning activity. To date, the successful rearing of over a thousand froglets stands as a testament to the long-term dedication of the care team.

April 28 marks the global Save The Frogs Day, which aims to raise awareness of the extinction crisis facing amphibians worldwide. As it approaches, wild Yuchi Music Frogs are also entering their breeding season. Visitors to the Amphibian and Reptile House may even hear their distinctive “teng-teng-teng” call, resembling the rhythmic plucking of harp strings. We warmly invite everyone to visit the zoo to learn more about Taiwan’s endangered amphibians.