Science to protect a sacred species

Hello all,

My name is Timothy Harvey, Director of Alvarius Research, a division of Lighthouse Genomics. Alvarius Research was formed to produce scientific resources to enable the conservation of a uniquely magnificent species. This toad is now under intense pressure from poachers and traffic across its range in the wild, already extirpated from California, as awareness of its psychedelic production has been exploding on the internet.

Currently, there is no body of research into the genetic diversity and structure of the species population. Setting conservation priorities requires knowing where the most imperilled pockets of diversity exist. Alvarius Research is willing to produce and publish a genome assembly, making it available to all researchers to work with – and to analyze genetic samples collected across the species range.

If we are to preserve this gentle, noble species, in all its natural diversity and abundance, we need to act now, while there is still a chance to preserve and protect it effectively. Donations will be channelled into producing a genome assembly as the crucial foundation for conservation science, and into approved genetic sample collection and analysis activities. Toads will not be harmed – only helped – and Alvarius Research will publish the results of our study, inviting other scientists to build on what we learn. Our first donation of $10,000 will gain naming rights to the genome assembly - linking your name to the conservation of this species for all time.