Happy International Day of the Frog!
You may not have heard about Amphibian Ark yet. Its goal is to start breeding programs for endangered amphibians, which are dangerously in danger of extinction. They have declared 2008 The Year of the Frog, and naturally, today, Leap Day, is International Day of the Frog.
I feel pretty strongly about this project. I think it’s a wonderful idea and plan to support them monetarily throughout the year, and encourage anyone who cares about our non-amniote cousins to do the same.
Here is a reprint of an email I recieved yesterday from Amphibian Ark:
Thank you for recently adding your name to the thousands around the world urging our governments to take actions to save amphibians. I don’t need to tell you that frogs, salamanders, and other amphibians are facing the most significant mass extinction since the dinosaurs.
I’m Jean-Michel Cousteau, and I am writing to you on behalf of Amphibian Ark, the global nonprofit organization that is coordinating the emergency rescue of the most threatened amphibian species. I am joining Sir David Attenborough, Jeff Corwin, and thousands of zoos, aquaria, and conservation organizations, to support Amphibian Ark in rallying our planet to avert this mass extinction.
I write this to you on the eve of Feb. 29, 2008, which is called Leap Day in the United States and, in this special “Year of the Frog”, is being call the International Day of the Frog.
Our collective success will come down to the money that is raised – from companies, and governments, and individuals like you and me. I am heartened at hearing stories of grade school children asking their birthday party guests to make donations to Amphibian Ark in lieu of a gift; and a British Isles couple that asked for donations to Amphibian Ark instead of wedding presents.
This indeed is a cause where small donations can add up to the saving of an endangered species. The physical plan for rescuing the most critically endangered amphibians species involves purchasing trailers and equipping them to be breeding centers, and training people to oversee the species’ return to populations of critical mass. The cost of saving a species under this plan is $100,000 – compared to other wildlife rescue, this is an amazingly efficient plan.
You are among the thousands who are the first to “jump in” to the amphibian issue. We are counting on you to multiply this number. Here’s what I am asking you to consider:
• Forward this email to 10 people you respect and will thoughtfully consider joining us on what may be considered, years from now, the greatest wildlife “save” in history. Ask them to visit www.amphibianark.org, learn more about the pending crisis, and join you in signing the petition.
• Keep informed of local conservation and education efforts in your area regarding this crisis. Zoos across the world are holding special educational events tomorrow, and throughout the year.
• Write your government representative to urge him or her to look into this issue, confer with local zoos and conservation departments, and do all that can be done to save this class of animal life.
• Make a donation, large or small, to Amphibian Ark through its Web site (www.amphibianark.org). Or mail a check to the address at the bottom.
Frogs are a crucial part of the ecosystem, and they act as indicators to the environment’s health. These remarkable creatures may hold the key to unlocking certain diseases such as depression, stroke, seizures, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. It is imperative that we preserve these creatures for ourselves and our future generations.
Thank you for being a part of the solution. Through an active dialogue we can generate awareness and education about this issue. Visit www.amphibianark.org for donation and sponsorship information.
Sincerely,
Jean-Michel Cousteau
P.S. The Amphibian Ark mailing address is:
Amphibian Ark
c/o IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group
12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road
Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA
(952)997-9800 / fax: (952)997-9803
www.amphibianark.org
Good day to all of you.
Stumble it!
