Splendid Poison Frog: Too Beautiful to Survive
Pet collectors prized these brilliantly colored frogs from Panama. Their limited range made them vulnerable to overcollection. The global spread of chytrid fungus hit remaining populations hard. Scientists declared them extinct in 2018 after years without confirmed sightings. Despite protected status, enforcement challenges allowed illegal collection to continue. Their toxic skin deterred natural predators but couldn’t protect them from human desire.