Follow Up: Year of the Frog

One third of the world's frogs are in danger of extinction. The American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) declared 2008 the "Year of the Frog" due to the loss of amphibian populations around the world. Frogs, such as this beautiful orange-legged leaf frog, are threatened by habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, and human over exploitation for food and for the pet trade. The stresses placed upon these animals makes them vulnerable to an emerging fungal disease called chytrid (pronounced 'kit rid').

So what happens in 2009 and beyond? The AZA is asking member institutions to continue their amphibian activities with the "Saving Frogs" campaign. It will begin in March with daylight savings time change, and will help zoos educate the public about the amphibian crisis.

The AZA will be taking over Frogwatch USA from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Frogwatch is a long term citizen science program that involves volunteer monitoring of frog and toad populations. By learning the calls of local frogs and recording those calls on a periodic basis over a breeding season, private citizens can contribute to a nationwide database of information. For more, see http://www.nwf.org/frogwatchusa/

2008 was the inaugural year that amphibian specific projects were funded by AZA's Conservation Endowment Fund (CEF). $175,000 was distributed to 9 projects, and these contributions will continue into the future.

Some of the work that zoos and aquariums are doing is the captive breeding of critically endangered species for eventual release, in range habitats that will support them. Due to the need to ramp up amphibian husbandry techniques, the AZA is offering a course in Amphibian Biology, Conservation and Management to be held in April, 2009, at the Toledo Zoo.

Photo by Piotr Naskrecki, AZA calendar