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2007 EAZA Year of the Frog Campaign home page |
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One half to one third of all amphibian species are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, climate change, pollution and pesticides, introduced species, over-collection and, most urgently, chytrid fungus, a deadly disease that is rapidly eradicating amphibian species throughout the planet. This represents the greatest species conservation challenge in our history. |
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| The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Global Amphibian Assessment indicates that hundreds of species face threats that cannot be mitigated in the wild and, therefore, require zoos and other institutions to save them in the short term until adequate conservation measures to secure wild populations can be developed. |
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| In response to the amphibian extinction crisis, Amphibian Ark (AArk) was formed by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and two branches of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN/SSC) – the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) and the Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG). |
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| AArk will help zoos, aquariums, and other participating institutions to save as many amphibian species as possible by bringing those species that can not be safeguarded in nature into institutions for captive breeding. 2008 has been named The Year of the Frog as a means of building public awareness of the amphibian crisis. |
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| Frogs matter! |
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They play an important role in the ecosystem as both predator and prey, sustaining the delicate balance of nature. |
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They perform invertebrate pest population control, important to successful agricultural efforts around the world and reducing the spread of disease (e.g. malaria) |
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Their skin produces substances that kill microbes and viruses, offering promising medical cures for a variety of illnesses, including HIV. |
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Their skin is highly permeable, allowing contaminants to more readily enter the body, making them an exceptional indicator of environmental quality. |
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Frogs have maintained a special place in human culture for many centuries, cherished as agents of life and good luck |
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Hyla arborea, European Tree Frog, Aleksander Niwelinski |
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| Five Goals |
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Generate public awareness and understanding of the amphibian extinction crisis |
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| Year of the Frog is a global campaign that will plan and execute a variety of major, worldwide marketing programmes as part of the global Amphibian Ark initiative. These programmes will be supported with global media outreach, with the goal of raising awareness of the amphibian crisis. Zoos, aquariums and other participating organisations will organise their own marketing and public relations programmes on a local level. |
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| See what BIAZA members are doing for the Amphibian Campaign... |
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To raise funds for implementing the ex situ aspects of ACAP (Amphibian Conservation Action Plan) |
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| Previous EAZA conservation campaigns mostly aimed to raise funds for in situ conservation projects. The EAZA Year of the Frog Campaign is different as only few in situ conservation projects for amphibians exist and the European activities are mostly focussed on ex situ breeding programmes. It has thus decided not to raise funds for specific projects but rather for an “EAZA Amphibian Conservation Fund” that can fund future projects as they are developed. The target for this campaign has been set at €750,000. |
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To encourage further EAZA member participation in amphibian ex situ conservation |
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| The AArk programme will rescue endangered frogs and place them into “protective custody” in hundreds of ex situ dedicated facilities at zoos, aquariums and other partner institutions around the world for safekeeping and breeding, ensuring the long-term survival of amphibians for which protection in the wild is not currently possible. To support this initiative, EAZA has created the EAZA Amphibian Ark Working Group. This group will coordinate all ex situ amphibian activities within EAZA and its member institutions. |
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To raise awareness and funds to support and supplement the activities of the AArk |
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| The Amphibian Ark plans to rescue frogs through ex situ conservation is simple, but requires donations totalling $50 - $60 million (US) to save 500 of the most endangered species. As well as raising awareness of the amphibian extinction crisis, participants of the campaign are encouraged to raise the profile of the AArk and its achievements to encourage the generation of funds to be ongoing. |
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Further position IUCN and the zoo community as leaders in global conservation |
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| With a strong focus on ex situ conservation with this campaign, it is a chance for zoos and aquariums to make a real difference in global species conservation. |
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| To take part in this campaign, please see the conditions and the application form downloadable here. EAZA members must send this form to the EAZA office, BIAZA members to send the form to the BIAZA office 020 7449 6359. |
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Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra). Photo: Gerardo Garcia |
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Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas). Photo: Gerry Marantelli |
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Banded horned tree frog (Hemiphractus fasciatus). Photo: Ron Holt |
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