2008: Year of the Frog Campaign

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Having been around for approximately 350 million years, amphibians have witnessed the dinosaurs come and go, and as a result of pollution, climate change, habitat destruction, over-exploitation for food and the pet trade, almost half of all amphibians are now themselves facing extinction.

Apart from natural and man-made environmental pressures, frogs, toads, newts, salamanders and caecilians are vanishing as a result of a fungus that is spreading rapidly among the world's amphibian populations. It is believed that the chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) originated in Africa, and has already spread throughout all continents except Asia and the poles.

Currently, more than 90 species are affected by the fungus-- this, combined with other environmental factors mentioned above, are responsible for what may be the most devastating mass extinction of a class of animals since the disappearance of the dinosaurs 64 million years ago.

In the last two decades, we have lost over 120 species of amphibians, and we could lose more than half of the existing 6000 species in only ten years if the trend continues. This could have disastrous effects on the planet's equilibrium as amphibians are a critical component of our world's biodiversity.

Apart from providing us with vital biomedicines currently being refined for antibiotics and analgesics, amphibians are indicators of environmental health, acting as "canaries in a coal mine"-- alerting us of dangerous changes in our environment.

For more information regarding the current state of amphibian populations, or to help manage the current extinction crisis, visit Amphibian Ark at amphibianark.org.

Jump in. Because frogs matter.

For more on the issue: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3743682.stm

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• frog
• ark
• environment
• disaster
• extinction
• endangered
• pollution
• change
• climate
• warming
• amphibian
• caecilian

[cozzycovers]

habitat destruction? lol NO! Every heard of Chytridiomycota, Evolutions a bitch buddy :)

[merumontanus]

@cozzycovers Evolution is a gradual process, and the spread of the chytrid fungus is being helped in great part by rapid globalization and the pet trade. Expecting so many species of specialized amphibians to adapt to the sudden threat of a fungus (spread by human activity) in just a few years is to misunderstand the very definition of evolution.

[SilentBombr]

i can't believe this is happening. i can't believe the lack of publicity.

[merumontanus]

There's been much publicity on National Geographic, the BBC, etc... but yes, lions and other cuddly animals get priority in our society, unfortunately, when many times it is the smallest and most "insignificant" that have the greatest impact on our ecosystem.

[Lizarrdo]

Very educational.

[merumontanus]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the note.

[montanahenchmen]

I ♥ this video!!!

[cdltpx]

We have these little green tree frogs that surround our home and they are so cool. I can go out and count 10 or more on my house in the summer. Sometimes they get in the house and head straight for the shower. My wife is afraid of them and when they share the shower she freaks then I am the one to save the poor little froggy. I collect him and set him back outside and all is well one hearing impared frog back to work eating bugs. My kind of friend.

[BlackSymphony94]

All those frogs and reptiles are so beautiful, it makes you appreciate nature, something we must do.. Very beautiful and educational..

[jayhoffer]

I liked it up until it made the BS claim about climate change.

[BLiNKBeaTs]

lol

[HFDeath]

save the amphibians

[xxBuehtahanxx]

1:02 Dun Cry... :[

[jantheempress]

Good job! I did a Save the Frogs video too :)

[wlofjaw]

intresting, i know that some frogs around hear like to hide in empty soada cans but i dont remember why.... probly becuse its dark and out of the hot sun, were i live my naborhood only has few trees and all of them are homed by squerls or birds...