Daniel Núñez Robles
Daniel Núñez Robles, a distinguished biologist and accomplished wildlife photographer from the University of del Valle in Guatemala. His academic journey included contributions as an assistant in courses like Life Sciences, Botany, and Herpetology, alongside two years of dedicated work at the Universidad del Valle Herbarium.
Beyond academia, Daniel served as an independent biology consultant for projects in Guatemala. He also volunteered as a biologist and wildlife photographer in the Peruvian Amazon, documenting diverse biodiversity at the Tambopata Research Center. In Mexico's Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, he collected critical data on reptiles and amphibians as a staff member with Operation Wallacea.
Daniel is a globally recognized wildlife photographer represented by Nature Picture Library. His achievements include winner of category in Wildlife Photographer of the Year of the Natural History Museum, finalist in Big Picture Natural World Photography from California Academy of Sciences, honourable mention in the International Photography awards, and finalist in the Nature in Focus awards, India.
With an enduring passion for nature, Daniel focuses on changing perceptions about stigmatized reptiles and amphibians and advocates for conservation with photography. As a participant in the Darwin Leader program, he aims to combine his scientific background and unique photography perspective to drive conservation efforts and inspire change, collaborating with a global network of scientists and photographers.
| LOCATION: | Punta del Este | AREA OF STUDY: | Darwin's toad |
| NATIONALITY: | Guatemala | SPONSOR: | Sociedad Zoologica, Uruguay |
| FILMMAKER: | Juan Miguel Mello |
| START DATE: | 26th November |
| END DATE: | 12th December |
| LOCATION: | Punta del Este |
| END POINT: | Guatemala |
| AREA OF STUDY: | Darwin's toad |
| SPONSOR: | Sociedad Zoologica, Uruguay |
| FILMMAKER: | Juan Miguel Mello |
Area of Study: Darwin’s Toad
In Uruguay today, we studied the Darwin Toad (Melanophryniscus montevidensis), an endemic species found along the coasts of Uruguay and Brazil. This remarkable amphibian is currently listed as an endangered species in Uruguay’s Red List of amphibians and as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Collaborating with Dr. Raul Maneyro, a professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the Universidad de la República in Montevideo and a leading expert who has studied the Darwin Toad for decades, we explored current investigations, ongoing threats, and the critical conditions of the few remaining populations in the country.
As part of this project, we visited key locations crucial to the conservation of this species, including Laguna de Rocha Natural Reserve, the Faculty of Sciences, and one of the last remaining Darwin Toad populations located within the International Airport of Carrasco in Montevideo. Our observations and discussions with Dr. Maneyro and other experts provided valuable insights into the significance of microhabitats and the actions needed to preserve these fragile populations.
While the Darwin Toad is facing significant challenges, efforts led by individuals like Dr. Raul Maneyro give hope for a brighter future, not only for this species but for amphibians as a whole. Today, we are actively working toward understanding and contributing to the conservation of this unique and vulnerable species.
Project Films
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Project Reports
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This Project Was Made Possible By: Sociedad Zoologica, Uruguay
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