During 2008, Living Coasts is taking part in a worldwide campaign to try and save frogs and toads from extinction. We’re taking part in the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Amphibian Alarm campaign.

Amphibians, including frogs and toads, have been on the planet for around 360 million years, surviving a number of mass extinctions including the extinction of the dinosaurs. Today, they are found in a wide range of habitats and we know of over 3,000 species worldwide.

Unfortunately, amphibians are now the most threatened class of vertebrate species and one third to one half of species may disappear from the globe within our lifetime. Their decline is mainly due to habitat loss, pollution and the global spread of a fungus known as the chytrid fungus. This fungus can kill 80 percent of the amphibians that it comes into contact with within months. At the moment there is no known cure in the wild.

Living Coasts is supporting EAZA’s campaign by organizing a series of special events throughout the year to raise money for the campaign and also to promote an awareness of the amphibian crisis among our visitors.

With help from the public, the campaign aims to raise money to place the most threatened amphibian species in captivity to help ensure the long-term survival of amphibian species.

Please help to prevent this crisis by donating to the campaign and come along to one of our fun events.

Click here www.amphibianark.org to visit the Amphibian Alarm website