Amphibian ark
- By Richard Branson -
- Jan 31, 2013
Hundreds of frog species around the world are on the brink of extinction.
They are being wiped out by a fungus called Bd, described by the Washington Post as "an amphibian version of a case of athlete's foot from hell”. Bd clogs frog pores and they die of a heart attack.
The spread of Bd has been linked to climate change and pesticide use, as well as the international trade in certain frog species.
This problem isn't isolated either - frogs are threatened in Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, Central America and Australia.
Panama is a hotspot for frog extinction. The country’s mascot is the golden frog, but it has not been seen in the wild for five years.
However, as the Washington Post reports, scientists are doing incredible work trying to save the frogs, with many in Panama being protected in an “amphibian ark”.
As the photo of a red-and-green poison arrow frog in Costa Rica shows, these are spectacular creatures that would be a huge loss to the earth if they became extinct.
Watch the video above and head over to amphibianrescue.org to get involved in the efforts to save the frog.
By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group
