Join us in keeping the world's frogs alive, kicking and croaking - support Operation Leap Frog in 2008 Year of the Frog.

Frog watching – thanks to Cairns Tropical Zoo

The Australian Rainforest Foundation officially launched Operation Leap Frog on February 29th - Leap Frog Day to support a global year long campaign by Amphibian Ark (Aark) to help prevent what could be the largest mass extinction since the dinosaurs.

The ARF was joined for the launch by 130 Cairns school children for a fun morning of; frog face painting, wildlife talks, frog tales and of course leap frog races.

The ARF launched the campaign’s website and fundraising initiatives including a Frog Fun Activity Book aimed at children ‘5 years and up’ and a Frog E-card; all to raise awareness of the importance of our frogs and to raise much needed funds to protect frog habitat and support scientific frog research.

Dr Victoria Gordon, ARF Chair says that frogs and other amphibians may be small in size but they are considered one of the most important biological barometers of an ecosystem’s relative health and they are telling us that something is wrong.

“Likened to canaries in the coal mine: just as miners used sensitive canaries to warn them of toxic gases in the mines, amphibians might be warning us of changing environmental conditions that could eventually seriously impact our health,” Dr Gordon said.

Lucky for these frogs – the crocs mouth is taped shut!

“Biologists refer to the species as ‘nature's indicators’ and with recent study’s showing that one-third to one-half of the world’s approximately 6,000 known amphibian species could go extinct in our lifetime, we need to listen but more importantly we need to act to help save our frogs now.”

“The Wet Tropics region, our backyard, is home to a quarter of Australia’s frogs yet critical species are still fighting traditional threats such as habitat loss and pollution while facing new threats from climate change and emerging disease,” Dr Gordon said, “We can all do something to help; from making our garden’s frog-friendly, protecting existing frog habitat and supporting scientific research. And everything you need to know and do to start helping can be found on the Operation Leap Frog website - www.arf.net.au/frogs.