Year of the frog- Amphibian Ark

Frogs, Newts, Salamanders and Toads.

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Year of the frog- Amphibian Ark

Postby rubida » Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:56 am

Don’t know if anything was posted on this yet, but the more the better!

Frogs and other amphibians are dying. After thriving for over 360 million years, 1/3 to 1/2 of the world’s 6,000 known amphibian species could go extinct in our lifetime – which would be the single greatest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs. The urgent danger is chytrid fungus, but other causes include habitat loss, pollution and pesticides, and climate change. Amphibians have long been referred to as the “canaries in the coal mine” – they are among the first species to be affected by environmental stressors, so when they show declines in the wild, it serves as a warning to other species, including humans.

Amphibians are a critical part of a healthy, natural world. In addition to their intrinsic value as a beautiful part of nature, they offer many benefits to us. They play an important role in the food web as both predator and prey, maintaining the delicate balance of nature. They eat pest insects, benefiting successful agriculture around the world and minimizing the spread of diseases, including malaria. The skin of amphibians contains substances that offer possible medical cures for a variety of human diseases, including AIDS.

Amphibians are at risk due to humankind, and it’s up to humankind to save them. If we do nothing, they will disappear forever. We must act, and we must act now. Therefore, zoos, aquariums, and conservation organizations around the world have designated 2008 as The Year of the Frog to raise awareness of the issue.

Vitis the website:

http://www.amphibianark.org/index.htm
For the love of African wildlife
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rubida
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