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Zoos Leap Into Year of Frog

Activists bring attention to decline of amphibians

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 29, 2008 9:23 AM CST
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(Newser) – How could any zoo resist? Leap Day, in the Year of the Frog, is being celebrated by zoos and conservationists everywhere as the perfect time to draw attention to the plight of amphibians. "We want to get people talking about frogs and thinking about them," said one zookeeper. "But the main thing we want them to understand is that the frogs in their back yard are really, really important.” 

Frogs and other amphibians have suffered declines due to habitat loss, pesticides, and fungal infections in recent decades. Amphibians are especially susceptible to environmental changes because their skin is so permeable; a third are threatened with extinction. Scientists value them for research, and anyone can appreciate the need to protect species that eat disease-carrying insects.

This undated handout photo provided by the University of Colorado shows a deformed frog. The growing number of deformed frogs in recent years is caused at least partly by runoff from farming and ranching, new research indicates. (AP Photo/University of Colorado, Peiter Johnson)
This undated handout photo provided by the University of Colorado shows a deformed frog. The growing number of deformed frogs in recent years is caused at least partly by runoff from farming and ranching,...   (Associated Press)
In this photo released by the Utah Dept. of Wildlife Resources on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, an American bullfrog is held near Roosevelt, Utah, on June 29, 2007. The bullfrogs are known as voracious eaters. They will eat snakes, worms, insects, fish, frogs and salamanders. Small birds and mammals could...
In this photo released by the Utah Dept. of Wildlife Resources on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, an American bullfrog is held near Roosevelt, Utah, on June 29, 2007. The bullfrogs are known as voracious eaters....   (Associated Press)
A green frog rests on a leaf in this file photo dated 24 Nov., 2007.
A green frog rests on a leaf in this file photo dated 24 Nov., 2007.   (Getty Images)
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endangered species • environment • zoo • zookeeper • frogs • leap year • Year of the Frog • amnphibians

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