Zoos Around the World Unite to Save Frogs
Up to half of the world’s 6000 species of amphibians (frogs and salamanders) are now threatened with extinction, and several hundred have already been lost forever. While the reasons for this mounting natural disaster have been habitat loss, pollution, over-harvesting and climate change, the newest and greatest threat is the worldwide, human-caused spread of a deadly chytrid fungus from Africa, for which amphibians have little or no resistance. Researchers are trying to find a cure, but currently the disease is untreatable. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has therefore declared 2008 as the Year of the Frog, and has called upon zoos and aquariums to spearhead rescue efforts, in both the field and laboratory.
In response to this crisis, members of the Canadian Association Zoos and Aquariums have launched ambitious programs of public education to profile this major extinction event, and to breed and maintain assurance or captive populations of endangered amphibian species in the hope that they can someday be re-introduced back into their natural habitats.
The Assiniboine Park Zoo and the Zoological Society of Manitoba hosted a media event on Friday, February 29 highlighting the plight of amphibians and what we are doing at the zoo to promote the conservation of these wonderful animals.
More more information on Frogs and Frog Happenings at the zoo, please Click Here.
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Check out all of the Zoological Society of Manitoba and Assiniboine Park Zoo's current Green Initiatives Here. We think you'll be impressed.
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