| Campaigns |
| EAZA 2007/8 Year of the Frog Campaign |
EAZA 2007/8 YEAR OF THE FROG CAMPAIGN In 2007/8, Colchester Zoo participated in the 7th annual conservation campaign of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA); the Year of the Frog Campaign. There are three groups of amphibians: frogs and toads, salamanders and newts and Caecilians. Sadly with the increasing rate of habitat destruction many amphibian species are becoming extinct. Today amphibians are the most threatened class of vertebrates. There are 6,000 species identified and, of these, one third to a half are threatened with extinction and half or more are expected to disappear within decades. In fact, more than 120 species have already disappeared. In addition to the major threat of habitat loss and degradation, amphibians are also at risk from a fungal disease caused by the Chytrid fungus. In areas where the Chytrid fungus occurs, it is expected to cause the disappearance of 50% of the species and 80% of individuals within one year. Global conservation organisations have recognised that amphibians are facing a global extinction crisis. In 2006, the Amphibian Ark (AArk) was launched to develop, promote and guide captive management of amphibian populations; working to rescue species at risk in the wild and maintain them in captivity until it is safe to release them back into the wild. It is hoped that hundreds or thousands of amphibian species can be saved. Amphibians have thrived on this planet for 360 million years and it is our duty to ensure that they continue to do so! In order to help conserve these threatened species and support global conservation efforts, the Year of the Frog Campaign was launched: • To support the Amphibian Ark global campaign • To raise public awareness and understanding of the amphibian extinction crisis • To raise funds to implement the captive aspects of the amphibian conservation action plan • To encourage EAZA members to participate in captive breeding • To raise awareness and funds to support and implement EAZA Amphibian Ark Here at Colchester Zoo, we pledged €10,000 to this campaign, thus receiving the gold certificate for contribution. This year, we donated £5,800 and the remaining donation to reach our target will be contributed in 2008-2009. Funds for this campaign were generated thanks to efforts of staff at the Wild about Animals Theatre, by selling merchandise in Colchester Zoo’s customer services department and by specific donations raised by staff and visitors to support the campaign. In the Easter holidays, Colchester Zoo's visitors took part in a Frog Finders Trail around the zoo site and had the chance to win a special reptile or mammal experience! Visitors were charged to enter the trail and all money went towards the campaign. In total, we had nearly a hundred entries into the trail. This Frog Finders Trail helped to complement other Easter activities throughout the holiday period including frog origami on the education stall, the sale of frog merchandise around the zoo and the promotion of the campaign in our Wild about Animals Theatre. In total, over £2,000 was raised for Amphibian Alarm throughout the three weeks of Easter activities. In total, EAZA aims to raise €750,000 to form an EAZA amphibian conservation fund. There are few conservation projects for amphibians in the wild so the focus will be on captive or ex situ projects. Funds will be spread around ex situ projects and in situ projects where feasible. The funds will remain active after 2008 and will be divided up; 40% to globally prioritised conservation activities and 60% to activities prioritised by EAZA inside and outside Europe. Picture copyright Dirk Petzold (Atelopus spumarius Pebas Stubfoot Toad) |
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