ARAZPA 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign Information pack ARAZPA 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign Printing: The ARAZPA 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign pack was generously supported by Madman Printing Phone: +61 3 9244 0100 Email: [email protected] Front cover design: Patrick Crawley, www.creepycrawleycartoons.com Mobile: 0401 316 827 Email: [email protected] Front cover photo: Pseudophryne pengilleyi, Northern Corroboree Frog. Photo courtesy of Lydia Fucsko. Printed on 100% recycled stock 2 ARAZPA 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign Contents Foreword.........................................................................................................................................5 Foreword part II ………………………………………………………………………………………… ...6 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................9 Section 1: Why A Campaign?....................................................................................................11 The Connection Between Man and Nature........................................................................11 Man’s Effect on Nature ......................................................................................................11 Frogs Matter ......................................................................................................................11 The Problem ......................................................................................................................12 The Reason .......................................................................................................................12 The Solution.......................................................................................................................12 Getting The Word Out........................................................................................................13 A Further Purpose .............................................................................................................13 The ARAZPA 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign................................................................14 Goals .................................................................................................................................14 Key Messages ...................................................................................................................14 Long-Term Partnerships ....................................................................................................16 Ten Good Reasons to Join the Campaign.........................................................................17 Section 2: ARAZPA Campaign Guidelines...............................................................................19 Participation and Registration............................................................................................19 Year of the Frog Registration Form ...................................................................................20 Use of Images....................................................................................................................21 Use of Logos......................................................................................................................22 Fundraising Money Transfer Details..................................................................................22 Sharing Information and Materials.....................................................................................23 Awards...............................................................................................................................23 Campaign Contacts ...........................................................................................................24 Section 3: Global Communications and Fundraising Plan.....................................................25 Communications and Fundraising Overview .....................................................................25 Amphibian Ark 2008 Year of the Frog Communications Plan............................................27 Amphibian Ark Communications Tools..............................................................................30 Global Amphibian Ark Events ............................................................................................33 Other Programs and Activities ...........................................................................................34 Amphibian Ark Fundraising Plan........................................................................................35 3 ARAZPA 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign Section 4: How Will My Money Be Used...................................................................................37 Section 5: Suggested Campaign Activities..............................................................................39 PR and Marketing ..............................................................................................................39 Education...........................................................................................................................40 Fundraising ........................................................................................................................41 Section 6: Merchandise..............................................................................................................45 Section 7: Amphibians in Australasia ......................................................................................47 Australasian Success Stories ............................................................................................47 Amphibians in ARAZPA institutions...................................................................................51 Section 8: Amphibian Information ............................................................................................61 Introduction ........................................................................................................................61 Amphibians in Danger .......................................................................................................62 Threats...............................................................................................................................62 Red List Status ..................................................................................................................63 Extinctions .........................................................................................................................64 Status by Taxonomic Group ..............................................................................................64 Frightening Statistics!.........................................................................................................68 Amphibians as indicators of environmental health and their contribution to humanity ......68 Geographic Patterns..........................................................................................................69 Geography of Threatened Species....................................................................................71 Patterns of Endemism........................................................................................................78 Chytrid Fungus ..................................................................................................................81 Amphibians Role in Culture and Religion ..........................................................................82 Appendices .................................................................................................................................87 1. Amphibian Ark and the 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign……………….......................87 2. The Amphibian Ark……………………………………………………………………………94 3. Australasian Frog Species………………………………………………………………....101 4 ARAZPA 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign Foreword Almost everyone can recognise frogs and toads. They are those extraordinary vertebrate animals which change from egg to adult by undergoing metamorphosis. This remarkable process played a crucial part in these animals’ pioneering invasion of the land. It demonstrates evolution compressed into just a few weeks and it sparks our imagination. Today amphibians can be found in enormous variety and occupy a wide range of water and land habitats – except for the oceans and the frozen polar regions. They are so familiar to most people that they have become part of the myths, legends, and folk tales of many cultures. And there is still much more for us to learn about them for new species are being discovered even today. Yet their habitats are being destroyed at such a speed that now many species may disappear before we even discover that they exist. Infections of chytrid fungus, for which there is no known cure, are today spreading rapidly and threatening entire amphibian communities. There is thus the real possibility that much of an entire category of animals may become extinct worldwide – unless we prepare to act quickly. Captive breeding has been shown by the scientific community to be one of the most important and appropriate ways to slow down the effects of this crisis. Selected species, bred in favourable ex situ conditions, can multiply and prosper to such an extent that populations can be released into secure environments in the wild. The IUCN/SSC Amphibian and Conservation Breeding Specialist Groups and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums have therefore launched The Amphibian Ark to support