Biologist Karen Lips recalls the moment she returned to her research site only to find all the Isthmohyla calypsa tree frogs had vanished. ‘All of them,’ she laments, indicating the depth of her shock and disappointment. Her initial thoughts revolved around whether her presence or environmental factors caused this mysterious disappearance. Despite waiting an entire summer, the frogs did not return, driving her desire to uncover the mystery.
The award-winning film, ‘The Waiting,’ captures the essence of loss and mystery surrounding the departure of tree frogs in Costa Rica. Directed by Volker Schlecht, it employs a striking hand-drawn black-and-white animation style, vividly illustrating the rainforest's transformation. Creatures weave in and out of their habitat, playing into the narrative of the tree frogs' sudden disappearance, engaging viewers in this poignant environmental story.
Lips expresses her initial reaction when the frogs disappeared, admitting she pondered whether she was to blame. ‘I thought... maybe I just need to wait long enough, and they'll come back.’ This reflects her hope and bewilderment in the face of sudden ecological change, revealing the impact of her research and the emotional weight of witnessing such a loss firsthand.
Later research showed that a microscopic fungus known as chytrids was responsible for the diminishing frog populations. Lips's investigation into the skin problems noted by her new team points to broader ecological issues, underscoring how diseases can manifest in wildlife and the implications for biodiversity as species become more susceptible to environmental changes.
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