Salamandra del Pital (Bolitoglossa synoria)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 202523919

Population assessment of the Bolitoglossa synoria amphibian of the Cerro El Pital Natural Area, El Salvador

 Twenty years after its discovery for science, the Pital's salamander continues to be little known and receives little attention for its conservation. It is a species with vulnerable conditions, because its abundance is unknown, it is very fragile and defenseless; getting worse with the continuous degradation of their habitat, which is restricted to a region shared between El Salvador and Honduras. This species receives the pressure of thousands of tourists every year in an extremely reduced area of ​​habitat, added to the pressure due to changes in land use and the possible effects that may arise from Climate Change.

The species is critically endangered according to the IUCN, it faces great challenges, since prior to this project there were no conservation, research and monitoring initiatives, also facing the cutting and burning of forests, the harassment of tourists, the presence of domestic animals and the use of agrochemicals that put their survival at risk.

Part of the objectives that this project addresses include, gathering information about the population status, habitat characterization and the conditions of the private lands where the species lives to establish future management and conservation plans in conjunction with the government, the local community and international organizations.