In our last customer survey (that is the last one we did, not a survey of our last ever customer) we found that the most popular attraction at the farm is now our Bullfrog Trio who have overtaken the Chicken Show and Trouble with the Truck as the must see entertainment at the farm. So Old Macdonald sent me to interview the Bullfrogs about this, and what they told me is both interesting and scary, so do read on!
For no other reason than this is a Leap Year (the sort of awful pun we would have been proud of) 2008 is the Year of the Frog, so our Bullfrog Trio have asked us to tell you more about it. We were shocked to learn that half of the worlds amphibians could become extinct in our lifetimes, which is an appalling thought! Urgent action is needed to ensure this environmental disaster is averted.
Amphibians include a wide range of species, not only frogs but salamanders, newts and caecilians and all of these are severely threatened by, who else, mankind and our developments. Because amphibians are what is called an indicator species, in other words they are the first to suffer from degradation of the environment, their dwindling numbers may be a warning to all other species. You see, amphibians absorb the atmosphere into their fatty tissues and so pollution affects them first of all.
Other reasons they are losing their lives is that there is a fungus growing in the wild, even in protected areas, that can kill over 80% of amphibians instantly and this is spreading rapidly through the world. Also, they are losing their natural habitats as deforestation and commercial crop growing affect the natural balance.
Finally, chemical pollution from acid falling within rain, pesticides and herbicides can wipe out entire populations within weeks, and with the pressure on developing countries to produce cheaper food it is amphibians that will suffer most.
Perhaps you are wondering why you should worry. It is because any significant change to the balance of nature will have a major impact on all of us as life is in a delicate balance, and a massacre of this sort will have major impacts in the future if it is not arrested. You may also wonder what you can do, and first of all visit www.amphibianark.org website and make a donation to the protection of amphibians. Our singing bullfrogs will be most grateful.
