The campus of King School is more akin to a college than a high school. Apparently, so is the curriculum.
Five years ago, students Nic Perez and James Hilton approached Nick DeFelice, Chair of the Science Department at King with a proposal… Can we implement the creation of a vivarium to breed a critically endangered species of frog, the Oophaga lehmanni?
The red-banded dart frog is endemic to a small section of rainforest in the Anchicaya Valley of western Columbia. King partners with the Calle Zoo in Columbia. They are the boots on the ground. The goal is to provide prominent zoos globally with offspring to continue to foster populations as well as an educational resource.
Andres Posso-Terranova is a professor of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. In his 2020 study explains, “They benefit the ecosystem as a healthy addition to the genetic diversity of the tropical rainforest. Genetic variation ensures stronger, more disease-resistant populations, both animals and plants. That's why it's important to preserve these frogs."
Poison frogs are highly sought after on the international black market and collectors love them for their amazing variation in colors and patterns. Each frog is worth up to $2,000, which prompts local impoverished people to sell them to traffickers. But the Colombian government is campaigning with locals to offer alternative income sources that could stop the trafficking.
King School, Mr DeFelice and these amazing students are not just learning science. They are making a difference while developing confidence, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Duncan Baird, the current student lead on the project, wants people to know that “Nature is NOT a hobby. We’re not doing this because we want to, we’re doing it because we have to.”
So what does this teach students at King School? It’s about the environment, giving back and student empowerment. It’s inspirational and an awareness for detail. For some students, it’s a connection to other students, which is helpful when you’re new to the school. It’s unique. It’s a joint effort from the top down. It reflects King School’s philosophy to empower students through education, teamwork, confidence and pride in their accomplishments.
It’s truly a project of awesome impact. You can watch the video of the construction of the vivarium on the King School website. And, if that wasn’t daunting enough, how about this - they breed their own flies to feed to the frogs.