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sehuencas water frog
Yes, it looks like Romeo, once referred to as "the loneliest frog in the world" for all the time he spent sending out fruitless calls for a mate, will finally be able to boost his species' numbers.
Just look at the little guy: Isn't he just lovely?
But Romeo will be lonely no more thanks to a sudden, romantic little plot twist.
Scientists ventured to a remote Bolivian cloud forest in search of other Sehuencas water frogs. They captured five, including one they've appropriately named Juliet.
"Romeo is really calm and relaxed and doesn't move a whole lot," said expedition leader Teresa Camacho Badani of the Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d'Orbigny in Cochabamba City, who said of Juliet:
"She's really energetic, she swims a lot and she eats a lot and sometimes she tries to escape."
When Romeo, who is about 10 years old, was captured, researchers knew his species was endangered, but they were not prepared for the possibility that they might not be able to find an individual with whom Romeo would be able to mate.
The scientists had to get creative to raise awareness of the species' plight, at one point creating a Match.com dating profile for the lonely frog:
Match.com/partner/profile/romeo
Romeo and Juliet haven't actually met yet, because Juliet and the other recently captured frogs are being quarantined so they acclimate to their new home. Researchers will need to determine that none of the new additions are affected by chytridiomycosis, which has decimated most of the wild population.
Romeo seems pretty thrilled, if we do say so ourselves.
And many are utterly thrilled for him.
Romeo isn't out of the woods yet, but we'll call this one a win for wildlife conservation.