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BOB HIRSHON (host):
The Year of the Frog…I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.
Frogs, salamanders and other amphibians have faced an alarming extinction crisis for several decades. Being semi-aquatic, they’re especially vulnerable to habitat loss, water-borne diseases and pollution. According to Brian Gratwicke, conservation biologist at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, a survey of amphibian populations around the world yielded some grim statistics.
BRIAN GRATWICKE (Smithsonian National Zoological Park):
About 42% of all amphibs were found to be in steep decline. This really is an unprecedented rate of loss.
HIRSHON:
Conservation groups have designated 2008 as the Year of the Frog to educate the public about the problem, promote captive breeding efforts and protect remaining habitats. To learn more, visit www.amphibianark.org. I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society.