New arrivals for West Midland Safari Park

The youngster is one of seven that have successfully made it from the tadpole stage to hatching into frogs at the West Midland Safari Park at Bewdley.

They can now be seen by visitors in the Discovery Trail in the Reptile House at the park.

In the wild they have skin toxins, which they get from their food such as ants and termites found in their native countries and are deadly.

But once in captivity and removed from their natural sources of food, their skin no longer contains a significant level of toxicity.

This makes them harmless, making them easier to handle – although keepers still have to take care as their skin can irritate human skin.

Bob Lawrence, director of wildlife at the park, said the colour frogs pose no threat to visitors.

"It is the first time that we have managed to breed them and the youngsters are now about a month old.

"Despite this they are only about half an inch long.

"Fortunately they are not thought to be particularly poisonous in captivity but we still handle them with care.

"They get their poison from their diet and in the wild eat termites.

"This is a first for the park and shows that the management and husbandry and environment is right," he said.

The frogs are usually found in the northern part of South America, most notably in Venezuela, and also in parts of Guyana, in Brazil, and Colombia rather than the West Midlands.

Their colours warn potential predators that they will make an unpalatable or toxic meal.

They are normally found in very humid conditions in tropical rainforests but close to fresh water.