Globetrotting Frog Relishes Royal Connections!
The Palms Tropical Oasis welcomes back its very own celebrity this week. Sumo the incredible Giant Argentinean Horned Frog has returned from his 6 month luxury stay at London’s National History Museum.
Sumo has spent the summer featured in both the phenomenal Charles Darwin exhibition and the Butterfly Garden, where he was the star of the show.
However this is not the first time that Sumo has been in the public eye. He made his media debut in 1998 when he was featured in national newspapers for his amazing recovery after eating a large piece of Bogwood. He underwent emergency endoscopic surgery to remove it from his huge stomach.
This year will be a busy year for Sumo as he approaches his 18th Birthday, which sure is a milestone for his species, who usually live for 10 years in captivity. Coincidentally Sumo’s species, the Argentinean Horned Frog has been chosen as the mascot for the Prince’s Rainforest Project, launched by Prince Charles to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the Planet.
The Palms Tropical Oasis and the Prince’s Rainforest Project are proud to be working together to raise awareness about the crucial need to preserve the worlds rainforests. Celebrities including Sting, Richard Branson and Royals Prince Harry and William have all jumped aboard to support such a deserving cause.
Sumo has moved into a new display at The Palms Tropical Oasis, where visitors can come along and discover more about the Prince’s Rainforest Project, and are encouraged to sign the petition against deforestation.
We have lots going on at The Palms in conjunction with The Prince’s Rainforest Project and conservation. There is plenty for both schools and families to get involved with and discover.
About The Prince’s Rainforests Project:
The Prince’s Rainforests Project (PRP) was established in October 2007 by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to develop consensus as to how the rate of rainforest destruction might be slowed. Rainforests regulate rainfall, preserve biodiversity and, most importantly, store vast amounts of carbon. Tropical deforestation is a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions and without tackling this problem it may be impossible to avoid catastrophic climate change. The PRP is working with governments, international businesses and non-profit organisations to find a solution. To find out more visit www.rainforestSOS.org
About Argentine Horned Frogs:
The Argentine Horned Frog also known as the Argentine wide-mouthed Frog or Pacman frog, is the most common species of Horned Frog, from the rain forests of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Horned Frogs are cannibals, often eating their brothers and sisters if food is scarce. They don’t hunt for food-they let it come to them- sitting still for so much of their lives that their back legs have evolved to be fairly useless. They can just about lunge at passing prey! Sumo devours whole mice (dead of course!) without a second thought.
The females can grow to be 14 cm long and the males 10 cm. The lifespan is 6 to 7 years, however they can live up to 10 years. The Horned frogs' most prominent feature is its mouth, which accounts for roughly half of the animal's overall size.
Sumo Argentinean Horned Frog
Sumo having operation in 1998
Prince Charles with Argentinean Horned
Frog.
