Time to stop our frogs from croaking
Friday, 29 February 2008, 1:52 pm
Press Release: Green Party
29 February 2008
Time to stop our frogs from
croaking
The Green Party is hopping about on Leap Day with
some serious fun with a serious message all about
frogs.
"Today is a very special Leap Day, as this time it
falls in the International Year of the Frog," Conservation
Spokesperson Metiria Turei says.
"And while we are jumping
for joy in celebration of this day, we also should be
hopping mad about what is happening to our own four species
of beautiful native frogs.
"All four species are under
threat. One, Hamilton's Frog, is estimated to number only
300 individuals. While Archey's Frog has been named most
evolutionary distinct and globally endangered amphibian. The
other two, the Maud Island Frog and Hochstetter's Frog are
also listed in the top 100 of the world's most endangered
amphibians - the Maud Island Frog at 58 and Hochstetter's at
38.
"Of the three species of introduced frogs and two of
these, both Bell frogs species, also make the top 100
list.
"Our frogs are being threatened by climate change
and habitat destruction. Frogs are like the canaries in the
mine when it comes to climate change - we cannot afford to
ignore these warnings."
This afternoon Mrs Turei will be
hopping, skipping and leap-frogging around this afternoon
with six froggy companions to bring the frog conservation
and climate change message to Wellingtonians.
"We want our
frogs to be singing for joy - not croaking," Mrs Turei says.
ENDS
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