Frogs flown to London to flee deadly fungus

Scientists are airlifting dozens of some of the world's rarest frogs from Montserrat Island in a last ditch attempt to save the species from extinction. Twelve critically endangered mountain chicken frogs have been given sanctuary by the Zoological Society of London at the London Zoo, the world's oldest scientific zoo. They were moved from the dense forest of a British Caribbean territory, their last remaining stronghold. The critically endangered creature got its name because locals say its meat tastes like chicken. It had been hunted and eaten as a delicacy, and after a*n explosion of the temperamental Soufriere Hills volcano is now watched over closely. Emerge of chytridiomycosis, a deadly fungal disease, is more serious than the volcano. It has already lead to the extinction of some of the world's amphibians. "Its impact has been catastrophic. The mountain chicken frog has been virtually wiped out," said Andrew Cunningham, senior scientist with the Zoological Society of London. In total, 50 frogs have been moved from the island as part of a speedy rescue mission by the Zoological Society of London and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.