After more than 360 million years of survival, one third to half of the world's approximately 6,000 known amphibian species could become extinct in our lifetime.  Earth is facing the single largest mass extinction since the disappearance of dinosaurs.

This is why 2008 is the Year of the Frog at zoos and aquariums around the world.  The objective of this campaign is to build awareness and support conservation initiatives in response to the alarming global amphibian decline.

As a campaign participant, Toronto Zoo has organized many events for 2008 focused on amphibian conservation.  The campaign's official launch was 29^th February (in recognition of the leap year).

Never has it been so important to build awareness of amphibian conservation.  The Year of the Frog will help us confront one of our planet's biggest environmental challenges.  So leap in to 2008 by learning more about amphibians and the threats they are facing.

More information can be found at:  http://www.torontozoo.com/frog.asp

Hop on the bandwagon and take part in FrogWatch, a popular NatureWatch Program – especially for kids!

FrogWatch participants of all ages can help scientists monitor Canada's frog populations.

All you have to do is listen to frogs calling at a pond — or even at the cottage or in your back yard.  On a number of evenings over the calling season, record your findings, and submit the results to your provincial or territorial FrogWatch coordinator.

More information can be found at:  http://www.naturecanada.ca/enews_feb08_frog.asp

Excerpt from: The Standard – St. Catharine’s; Wednesday, 6th February, 2008

…Frogs and tadpoles consume huge numbers of insects - many of which cause crop damage and disease - and are themselves an important food source for many other species.  And amphibians are valuable to science in ways that directly affect humans.

"They're important because they've had a huge role in medicine, research and medical applications," says Shelly Grow, conservation biologist with Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  "Many medical compounds have been found because of the secretions in their skin or the microbial communities on their skin."

Why are frogs disappearing so rapidly? Like many other animals, they are affected by habitat loss and climate change, as well as pollution. But a special problem is a disease that's spreading all over the world, a fungus of a type called chytrid.

"When this fungus arrives in an area, 50 per cent in the area might go extinct within six months," Grow says.

AMPHIBIAN ARK

In 2008, Amphibian Ark (AArk) will lead zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums in a globally coordinated public awareness campaign “The Year of the Frog.” The main goal of this campaign is to generate public awareness and understanding of the amphibian extinction crisis which represents the greatest species conservation challenge in the history of humanity. The money raised from this global campaign will help fund initiatives such as training courses, technical guidance, taxon survival efforts, fostering partnerships, capacity building, and communication activities. All these activities will ensure sustainability of the survival assurance populations of amphibians by creating a cash fund for this conservation work that will extend for beyond 2008.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Web Administrator - Isa Webb.
Last Updated: Friday March 21, 2008