Frogs Forever?

The world is facing what may be the single largest mass extinction event since the time of the dinosaurs: as many as half of the world’s 6,000 known amphibian species could be wiped out in our lifetimes.

One-third to one-half of the world’s 6,000 known amphibian species could vanish in our lifetime, resulting in the single largest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs.

Habitat loss, pollution and hunting are serious concerns, but the most immediate threat to amphibians is a parasitic fungus called the amphibian chytrid (“kit-rid”); it’s a deadly disease that is quickly spreading across the planet.

The Vancouver Aquarium has joined forces with zoos and aquariums around the world to try and stop hundreds if not thousands of species from vanishing forever. It’s a multi-facetted global effort called Amphibian Ark.

Its goal is to raise awareness about the vulnerability of amphibians and to rescue at least 500 of the most threatened species. They will be protected and bred in secure facilities at zoos and aquariums until, hopefully, the threats to the wild populations can be controlled and the animals can be released back into nature.

For its part, the Vancouver Aquarium has opened a new amphibian gallery that aims to raise awareness about these delicate animals, and has made a long-term commitment to research and breeding of seriously endangered amphibian species.

Frogs Forever? is a fascinating new exhibit at the Aquarium that trains the spotlight on the plight of the world’s frogs, with tips on how we can all help save them. The new gallery features 26 species of amphibians and interactive activities that engage, amaze and inspire visitors to care for these important creatures of our natural world.

To learn more about the global amphibian crisis read this article from the spring 2008 issue of the Aquarium's Waters magazine.

Play Frogster - the hardest game you'll ever play.

Aquarium Frog Conservation Program

The Vancouver Aquarium is working locally with Mountain View Conservation & Breeding Centre, the Greater Vancouver Zoo and the rest of the Oregon Spotted Frog Recovery Team to preserve Oregon spotted frogs, which are now only found in three wetlands in Canada—all of them in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley.

The Aquarium is adding frogs to its Critter Corner program, running daily at 11:00 am. This program will give you the opportunity to watch frogs during a live feed and learn more about some of the amazing things they do, and how you can help save them.

Leap in and join the frog rescue effort: buy a CAZA red-eyed tree frog plush toy at the Aquarium's Clamshell Gift Shop. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) frog goes directly to rescue programs designed by Canadian experts to save as many of these amazing animals as possible.