World Association Of Zoos & Aquariums Declares 2008 The Year Of The Frog - Reuters

LONDON - Conservationists from around the world have declared 2008 the Year of the Frog to highlight their new campaign to save threatened amphibians from extinction. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) said on Friday that up to half of amphibian species could be wiped out in coming years through habitat loss and climate change -- the biggest mass extinction since dinosaurs disappeared.

"It's imperative that the world zoo and aquarium community plays an active role in working to save the planet's critically endangered amphibian species," said WAZA president Karen Sausman following the decision at a meeting in Budapest.

As part of the campaign, which needs to raise up to US$60 million in funding, WAZA also set up a petition calling on all governments to take action to beat the amphibian crisis and agreed to an Amphibian Ark captive breeding programme. "It's both our obligation and our privilege to help these glorious animals. We invite all people around the world to help amphibians survive by signing our global petition and contributing to fund this initiative," Sausman added.

The programme will bring priority amphibian species into dedicated facilities at zoos, aquariums, and other institutions around the world for safekeeping and breeding. The creatures will be released back into the wild when the original threats have been controlled.

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http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/44072/story.htm

As a French Canadian I'm very pleased!:)

There's no water up on our hill so I'm digging a pond where I'll have a waterfall, then next Spring I'll take some tadpoles from a stream nearby.. or people have told me that 'If I build it then the frogs will come' but I want the tadpoles anyway.
I realize it's not saving the whole Frog world, I'll just be moving some local toads or whatever.. I mean I hope WAZA can make a huge difference! Thank you for this article.