Take a leap: 2008 is the year of the frog
With Leap Day just a hop, skip and jump away, it's time to let you know -- in case you've been hiding under a lily pad somewhere -- that 2008 is the Year of the Frog.
Who says it's the Year of the Frog? The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), that's who -- and starting Friday more than 90 of its member organizations, including the National Aquarium in Baltimore, will be holding events around the country to educate people about amphibians.
If you don't think frogs deserve an entire year, consider this: One-third of all amphibians on the planet are threatened with extinction, in part due to a new disease - chytridiomycosis – that wipes out frogs, toads, and salamanders.
That blue rainforest-dwelling fellow above, for example -- Dendrobates azureus -- is one of 234 species of Poison Dart frogs, 28 percent of which are now threatened with extinction.
Zoos and aquariums plan to play a major role in addressing the amphibian extinction crisis, according to the AZA.
The National Aquarium in Baltimore will start celebrating the Year of the Frog, starting Friday, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and continue March 1 and 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, with presentations each day, including frog calling and leaping contests, face-painting (your chance to be green), and presentations from aquarium experts and authors.
The National Aquarium in Baltimore is housing specimens and offspring from several Panamanian amphibians collected in 2005 as part of a study to see if it is feasible to establish captive colonies of species that will be impacted by the chytrid fungus.
Comments
John,
Besides the fact that they rhyme, what do frogs have to do with dogs?
Posted by: Sam Sessa | February 28, 2008 10:56 AM
Samuel, Mutts is about all creatures, even bugs. While our emphasis is on dogs. We have also frequently featured cats and have also featured otters, polar bears, robot dogs, cats, turtles, fish, giraffes, humans and wildebeasts.
Okay, maybe not wildebeasts.
Give us time though and we will get to them. As I once told the pesky young reporter I sit next to at work, one should be flexible when it comes to the boundaries that they, or someone else, have proscribed for them. One should, from time to time, as our headline suggests: TAKE A LEAP!!!
Posted by: john woestendiek | February 28, 2008 1:08 PM
The real shame about the chytrid outbreak is that it's so easily treatable. However, it's clearly a logistical impossibility to cover amphibian habitats in itraconazole, so down they go...
I love the frog exhibit at the Aquarium, though, and hope it helps get the word out for the conservation efforts! (though, I was sad to go in and see the giant fiberglass humpback was gone. Wassup with that?)
Certainly glad to see the issue getting some more media play, anyhow. Thanks for this post!
(minor pedant point: Wildebeest, no "a". With fun African vil-duh-BASTE pronunciation. Come on, try it. It's fun to say.)
Posted by: Pat | February 28, 2008 5:33 PM
Thanks, Pat. Now that I know how to spell wildebeest, maybe I should go ahead and write something about them.
Posted by: john woestendiek | February 28, 2008 10:36 PM
I gnu someone would have a use for that information.
/so sorry
Posted by: Pat | February 29, 2008 12:59 AM
Leap Yrs r so cool!
I know a girl who's birthday is on the 29th of February!
Isn't that jus' like soooooooo awesome!
Well, anywayz, i can't wait 'till next Leap Yr!
It's gonna be so exciting, don't u think?
luv me lotz,
Lara:)
Posted by: Lara Pandara | February 29, 2008 12:59 AM
Gno apology necessary, Pat. It's good to have someone ferret out my mistakes so I can correct them. Besides, I otter know better.
Posted by: john woestendiek | February 29, 2008 8:10 AM