An Argentine researcher received the "Green Oscar" for his work conserving an endangered species.

Argentine biologist Federico Kacoliris was awarded the "Green Oscar" in the United Kingdom . The researcher received the Whitley Prize, one of the highest awards available to individuals dedicated to wildlife conservation.

Kacoliris is a researcher at Conicet and director of the Somuncura Foundation, dedicated to protecting and recovering one of the smallest and most peculiar amphibians found only in Argentina: the corner frog.

the little frog in the corner

In addition, the winners of this award receive £50,000, training and media exposure, as well as films narrated by the renowned naturalist and science communicator David Attenborough.

In turn, they join an international network of alumni who can opt for continuation funding, allowing them to scale up successful conservation solutions.

The species Kacoliris and her team are working on doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. In our country, it only lives in a single stream that runs through the Patagonian plateau, Somuncura, in Río Negro. Somuncura means "talking stones" in Mapuche.

In that region of the province, the wind is so intense and constant that, according to the biologist, when it hits the rocks that form part of the landscape, it seems to make them whistle.

There lies the Valcheta stream, which supports the common frog, also known as the Valcheta or Pehuenche frog. It is one of the seven endangeredspecies in Argentina.

Amphibians are at risk worldwide due to their high vulnerability to temperature fluctuations and the presence of pollutants in water and air. Currently, 40% of amphibian species are in danger.