The campaign to stop the mass extinction of amphibian species got a huge shot in the arm today from Clorox – the first official corporate sponsor of Amphibian Ark’s Year of the Frog campaign. Clorox issued a press release today and launched a “save the frog” Web site explaining it was providing funding to Amphibian Ark — plus donating a really big amount of Clorox bleach that will be used worldwide in the fight against the killer frog fungus, chytrid. Kevin Zippel, Amphibian Ark’s program officer, is doing news interviews this morning about it. And on the Web site (also posted on YouTube and shown in this post) there is a great video explaining the amphibian crisis, chytrid’s role, and how Clorox bleach is used to help in the rescue of threatened species. Also on the Web site is a video of Jeff Corwin talking about it.
Just a terrific leadership move by Clorox. So, you have to be wondering: bleach…and frogs? Here’s something from the press release that explains it:
Clorox® Regular-Bleach, an EPA-registered fungicide, is one of the most important tools in Amphibian Ark’s fight to save the frogs. Frogs are treated with anti-fungal medicine and anything else that has contact with water during amphibian rescue is treated with a bleach solution, from boots and clothing to instruments and transport containers, to be sure researchers are not spreading fungus to new, uncontaminated areas. When zoos and aquariums bring frogs that cannot be saved in the wild into protective custody, their enclosures are treated with a bleach solution daily for the first weeks to be sure they remain fungus-free. (Organizations, including U.S. Geological Survey, recommend using a 1:10% solution of bleach, to disinfect equipment that comes in contact with chytrid fungus. )
December 22, 2007 at 1:02 am
When I first heard about Clorox becoming a sponsor, I nearly “croaked” (pun intended).
You see, there is a pond, not too far from my abode, where some folks thought it “wise” to throw in those pool chlorine pucks to silence the springtime mating calls of tree frogs there. This is the kind of mentality that is hard to “educate”.
I am also fighting for proper protection of a park and pond, habitat for a “species of concern”, the blue-listed Northern Red-Legged Frog, in my locale. It seems it’s southern cousin, the California Red-Legged is already red-listed and attempts to conserve it is almost too late.
The Northern Red-legged Frog habitat is becoming fragmented and degraded due to recreational overuse and development — for mountain bike use — turning the wetland, uplands and overall temperate rain forest into an amusement park for these two-wheeled (w)re(k)reationalists.
Vernal breeding pools are being destroyed, and natural drainage of the forest diverted. “Paving over paradise” to accommodate selfish off-road wheeled recreation!
My problem is — our municipal politicians just don’t care enough to properly protect the frogs and amphibians that live there. Paying “lip service” just is not enough!
December 22, 2007 at 2:21 am
There are far too many people who still aren’t remotely aware that there is a problem with amphibians. Keep doing what you’re doing. The rest of us will, too.