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Year of the Frog

Conservationists often rely on images of big, charismatic mammals to rally support for environmental causes. The plight facing polar bears, gorillas, and elephants is undeniably compelling, but often it is smaller, less noticeable species that feel the impact of habitat loss and degradation long before the tremors reach the top of the food chain.

For many years an amphibian crisis has been escalating around the world. In addition to die-offs and deformities caused by pollutants, alarming numbers of frogs and other amphibians have fallen victim to chytrid fungus, described by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) as the worst infectious disease ever recorded among wildlife in terms of the number of species impacted and the severity of the impact. In response, the AZA (as well as its European counterpart, the EAZA) has declared 2008 to be the Year of the Frog and issued a call to action, encouraging its member institutions to become involved by expanding efforts to captive breed endangered amphibian species, and sponsor research and conservation efforts to save wild populations.

Last fall the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens signed on to participate in a mountain yellow-legged frog conservation project that is a joint effort of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the California Department of Fish & Game, the Chaffee Zoo in Fresno, and the center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES) at the San Diego Zoo. Mountain yellow-legged frogs are native to the larger mountain ranges throughout Southern California, and due primarily to habitat loss and the introduction of invasive species such as trout and bullfrogs, populations have declined drastically. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) classifies them as critically endangered.

This fall Animal Keeper Kyle Keas took part in fieldwork that involved the removal of rainbow trout in parts of the Angeles National Forest. Trout have been introduced in many streams throughout Southern California, where they are a favorite with fishermen, but they often spread into areas that are protected and eat a significant number of yellow-legged frog tadpoles. The goal is to keep the trout out of these areas. The other facet of the program will be setting up captive populations of the yellow-legs so that wild areas can be repopulated. Hopefully the Zoo will be able to eventually establish a breeding group off exhibit and expand its participation in this program.

To learn more about the amphibian crisis and what you can do to help, visit www.yearofthefrog.org.