Frog Matters

Put this in your scrap book, friends of the frog and everybody at Amphibian Ark. It’s Feb. 29, International Day of the Frog, and Google is saluting our cause on the planet’s most referenced Web site.

It’s simply terrific news for amphibians that Jean-Michel Cousteau has climbed aboard Amphibian Ark as a patron — another iconic figure joining Sir David Attenborough and Jeff Corwin on our froggy Mt. Rushmore. Here’s the email that Cousteau just sent to everyone who signed the online “save the frog” petition:

Thank you for recently joining thousands around the world who are petitioning our governments to take actions to save amphibians. I don’t need to tell you that frogs, salamanders, and other amphibians are facing the most significant mass extinction since the dinosaurs. I’m Jean-Michel Cousteau, and I am writing to you on behalf of Amphibian Ark, the global nonprofit organization that is coordinating the emergency rescue of the most threatened amphibian species. I am joining Sir David Attenborough, Jeff Corwin, and thousands of zoos, aquaria, and conservation organizations to support Amphibian Ark in rallying our planet to avert this mass extinction.

“I write this to you on the eve of Feb. 29, 2008, which is called Leap Day in the United States and, in this special “Year of the Frog,” is being call the International Day of the Frog. Our collective success will come down to the money that is raised – from companies, and governments, and individuals like you and me. I am heartened at hearing stories of grade school children asking their birthday party guests to make donations to Amphibian Ark in lieu of a gift; and a British Isles couple that asked for donations to Amphibian Ark instead of wedding presents.

“This indeed is a cause where small donations can add up to the saving of an endangered species. The physical plan for rescuing the most critically threatened amphibians involves converting trailer-sized containers into breeding centers, and training people to oversee the species’ return to healthy populations. The cost of saving an entire species under this plan is $100,000 – compared to other wildlife rescue, this is an amazingly efficient plan.

You are among the thousands who are the first to “jump in” to the amphibian issue. We are counting on you to multiply this number. Here’s what I am asking you to consider:

• Forward this email to 10 people you respect and will thoughtfully consider joining us on what may be considered, years from now, the greatest wildlife “save” in history. Ask them to visit www.amphibianark.org , learn more about the pending crisis – and they can sign the petition on that Web site.
• Stay informed of local conservation and education efforts in your area regarding this crisis. Zoos across the world are holding special educational events tomorrow (Feb. 29) and throughout the year.
• Write your government representative to urge him or her to look into this issue, confer with local zoos and conservation departments, and do all that can be done to save this class of animal life.
• Make a donation, large or small, to Amphibian Ark through its Web site ( www.amphibianark.org ). Or mail a check to the address at the bottom of this email.

Frogs are a crucial part of the ecosystem, and they act as indicators to the environment’s health. These remarkable creatures may hold the key to unlocking diseases such as depression, stroke, seizures, Alzheimer’s and cancer. It is imperative that we preserve these creatures for ourselves and future generations.

Thank you for being a part of the solution. Through an active dialogue we can generate awareness and education about this issue. Visit www.amphibianark.org  for donation and sponsorship information.  Sincerely,  Jean-Michel Cousteau  P.S. The Amphibian Ark mailing address is: Amphibian Ark, c/o IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA  (952)997-9800 / fax: (952)997-9803  www.amphibianark.org

Here’s a sampling of what I found online for Leap Day events to save amphibians. For those of you new to this issue, here’s post that explains things you can do to help avert the most significant mass extinction since the dinosaurs:

• South Africa: The Johannesburg Zoo will be hosting a series of workshops to highlight the plight of the amphibians, which are facing mass extinction.
• United States: In New York City, in an effort to raise awareness of the amphibian crisis and decline - and to have a “ribbiting” good time - the Bronx, Prospect Park and Central Park Zoo, along with the New York Aquarium will feature a series of events beginning on Friday. Source story. Listing of all U.S. zoo activities on Leap Day can be found on this link.
• Scotland: Edinburgh Zoo is holding a free talk on Wednesday 6 March during which its reptile keepers will speak about the plight facing amphibians and the vital role amphibians play in the ecosystem.
• Czech Republic: The Zlin zoo recently launched a campaign for the protection of amphibians within the year-long project the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria has organised, zoo spokeswoman Romana Bujackova told CTK.
• Canada: Toronto Zoo on February 29th celebrates the launch of an important global conservation initiative - 2008 Year of the Frog! With special guest speakers: Hon. Donna H. Cansfield, Minister of Natural Resources and Bob Johnson, Toronto Zoo Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians.
• New Zealand: At Auckland Zoo, Katchafire, one of the leading reggae bands in New Zealand, will perfom on Friday, 29 February. Leap in to this one, and you’ll be helping our endangered native frogs!
• Japan: Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo, Japan’s oldest zoo, will let little princesses have their photos take with frogs, let kids make Amphibian Ark masks, and teach them about the Chytrid fungus that was a late discovery in Japan. (I didn’t find this one online; I read it in an email from Ueno Zoo to Amphibian Ark.)
• Australia: Zoos Victoria (three zoos, in Melbourne, Werribee, and Healesville) is celebrating Leap Day with a special Frog Fundraising Concert featuring two great bands. Funds will be raised to support ZV’s contribution to the Amphibian Ark campaign.More funds will be raised by the sale of frog-themed merchandise; there will be a silent auction and people there will be the first to sample new chocolate frogs. 
• United Kingdom: The West Midland Safari Park in Worcestershire will host ‘froggy’ themed activity sessions in the classroom; complete with froggy face painting. Walks through Discovery Trail will expose visitors to information boards and there will be donation boxes

These 100 children took part in a mass leapfrog event today (Wednesday 13^th February) to launch a conservation campaign at Marwell Zoological Park, near Winchester, England, to help save some of the world’s rarest animals. Up to half of the world’s amphibian species are threatened with extinction and a staggering 165 species of frogs, toads and salamanders have already gone extinct. The children launched the wildlife appeal ‘Leap 4 Life’ with 1892 leapfrogs - each jump representing an amphibian species that is under threat. This photo shows them leaping in front of the 16^th Century Marwell Hall, Hampshire.

The Hampshire based conservation charity is helping to avert the amphibian crisis – which equates to the largest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs – by building a bio-secure amphibian centre in anticipation of receiving a high priority species, which without help is certain to become extinct.

The amphibians are dying out because a deadly fungus called Amphibian Chytrid stops the frogs, toads and salamanders from being able to breath (through their skins) and thus suffocate to death. This deadly fungus is travelling uncontrollably and at such an alarming rate that no amphibian is safe.

Geoff Read, Section Manager for Lower Vertebrates and Invertebrates believes that Marwell’s centre is vital:” Until a cure is developed to stop the fungus the safekeeping and captive management of threatened amphibians is the only way to ensure their long-term survival.  Once the threat has been controlled it is hoped many species will be released back into the wild.”

The world’s leading conservationists (BLOG NOTE: with Amphibian Ark in the middle of all the action) have come together to declare 2008 “The Year of the Frog” and Patron of the campaign, Sir David Attenborough, realizes the importance that parks, like Marwell can make: “The global zoo and aquarium community has taken on the challenge with enthusiasm and is providing appropriate facilities and breeding grounds within their institutions.”

(Source: Marwell Zoological Park press release)

A Perth zoo keeper smooches a costumed Splendid Tree Frog on Feb. 14 at Perth Zoo. It was 89 degrees outside that day. Poor guy or gal in that suit! 

Here’s a great link from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that lets you find out what your nearby U.S. zoo is planning for Leap Day — the day of the frog, and the biggest day in the Amphibian Ark-declared Year of the Frog.

“Monteverde is an ark — and it’s in trouble.” Yesterday on NPR’s “All Things Considered”, there was a 6-minute story explaining how “climate change is shuffling the deck” in Monteverde’s rich biodiversity, starting with the disappearance of the golden toad 19 years ago.  Excerpt:

When nature guide Javier Perez began giving tours of the Cloud Forest preserve three years ago, they would normally spot 40 frogs on their loop walk.

‘Today, only three years later, in a two-hour walk (we see) only two or three frogs…’ (quote from Perez).

February 29 is Leap Day — a day for adjusting the calendar, and for saving the frog. In particular, it’s a huge day for Amphibian Ark and scores of other organizations trying to prevent the mass extinction of frogs and other amphibian species. But let’s have some fun for a moment. So how far can frogs really leap? I surfed around and submit these borrowed factoids:

The longest leap on record may be 33 feet 5.5 inches, according to Leapin’ Froggies.

They can jump 10 times the length of their bodies, according to Angela’s Pond Life Page.