Conservation of critically endangered Perret's toad Sclerophrys perreti from Idanre Hill, Nigeria: Approach from species action plan, habitat restoration

Our focal species - Sclerophrys perreti (common name: Perret’s toad) is only known from the Idanre Hill, in Ondo Province, southwestern Nigeria. This species is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ under IUCN red list http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/54732/0. It was previously thought that it may occur in similar habitats in southwestern Nigeria, but subsequent surveys in similar habitat around the type locality have failed to record it which suggests it could be micro-endemic (Onadeko et al. 2014). It occurs in a single threat-defined location. Further, our rapid re-assessment of the type locality in 2016 of this target species indicates that the population is decreasing. This could be attributed to the ongoing decline in the extent and quality of the associated habitat mainly due to farming/agricultural activities, human movement and influx in those regions and collection of herbal materials by traditionalist. It is therefore of utmost importance to protect this species and its associated habitat. In this current project, we aim carrying out effective species action plan through species re-assessment studies aimed at documenting population status and distribution range as well as identifying conservation priority areas for Perret’s toad across its type locality. Further, we aim at identifying current and potential threats that is affecting the survival of the species by evaluation of the associated habitat. We will extend our work to habitat management and restoration activities so as to recover the associated habitat of Perret’s toad. In addition, we will engage on conservation education en masse. Finally, we will aid the Management of Idanre Hills in protecting the range distribution of Perret's toad from human encroachment.