Frogs and other amphibians may be small in size but they are considered one of the most important biological barometers of an ecosystem’s relative health. Yet it is believed that one-third to one-half of the world’s approximately 6,000 known amphibian species could go extinct in our lifetime and that is sending out warning bells to scientists as changes are occurring in the environment that will negatively impact on all our native wildlife including humans.

Likened to canaries in the coal mine: just as miners used sensitive canaries to warn them of toxic gases in the mines, amphibians might be warning us of changing environmental conditions that could eventually seriously impact our health. Biologists refer to the species as "nature's indicators."

Orange Thighed Treefrog

In Australia dramatic declines in some frog species have been reported since the 1980s, with concern increasing more recently with the disappearance of a number of species from apparently intact ecosystems such as the Wet Tropics rainforests in far north Queensland. This rich and biodiverse ecosystem is home to a quarter of Australia’s frogs yet these critical species are still fighting traditional threats such as habitat loss and pollution while facing new threats from climate change and emerging disease.

Amphibian Ark (AARK), an arm of the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP) has declared 2008 the Year of the Frog, with a global campaign to raise awareness of the amphibian crisis, and to generate funding for amphibian conservation.

The ARF has registered as a supporter in this campaign and through Operation Leap Frog 2008 is aiming to promote awareness of the importance of caring for and protecting frogs while raising essential funds to support ongoing scientific frog research and protect vital frog habitat in far north Queensland, while at the same time supporting the International crisis through Amphibian Ark.

In your garden

Make your garden frog friendly. Frogs like fresh water. Keep your frogs happy with water in your garden. Watering systems around your garden for plants can be great. A bird bath may be popular with treefrogs.

• Plant native shrubs and trees that will attract wildlife and provide shelter and a safe home for frogs.
• Use natural mulch on garden beds.
• Create a compost heap which is great for insects, a frogs favorite food.
• Use rocks and logs around your garden and place leaves and fallen branches on your garden beds to break down naturally.

A few handy hints to build and maintain your own thriving frog pond:

Around your house

Reduce your carbon footprint, to consume less energy, stop polluting and start recycling

Reduce your use of pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers and detergents and try to use natural alternatives in your home and garden to prevent water running into drains becoming contaminated and harming native frogs in the wild.

• Be a responsible pet owner:

• • Keep cats indoors or in a special outdoor run, especially at night.
  • Keep dogs on a lead when walking.
  • Keep dogs contained in a secure fenced area when at home.
  • Get your pets de-sexed and microchipped and make sure they wear an identifying collar.

• Don’t tip chemicals down the sink and don’t wash your car with chemicals, they all end up in the local waterways and kill frogs.

Out and about

When out in the rainforest or near creeks try to minimise your impact on these areas because this is a natural home for many native frogs.

Worried about a frog?

• Try not to handle frogs, if you need to help always wash your hands first and keep your hands wet when you pick up a frog.
• If it is uninjured and needs no further help, ie it’s become lost in your house simply place it in your garden in amongst vegetation.
• If you are concerned about a frog, place it in a plastic container with air holes and a small amount of water to keep it moist. Keep it in a cool place and call the Frog Hospital for further advice and assistance.
• Cairns Frog Hospital:
  • Hospital: 4033 0723
  • Mobile: 0428 114 266
  • Website: www.fdrproject.org

Help protect frog habitat – Send a FrogE-card

• Send a FrogE-card
• Pick up a copy of the ARFs Frog Fun Activity Book for a gold coin donation to Operation Leap Frog.
• Buy an Operation Leap Frog T-shirt
• Visit the ARF Gift Shop in Cairns or online