Leapday – February 29 is usually associated with love and women being able to ask men to marry them but in the eco-world it’s the perfect day to celebrate amphibians.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary got right behind Leap-Day this year partnering with international group Amphibian Ark.
Just 51 institutions world-wide took part in the group initiatives being organised by Amphibian Ark, with just seven in Australia and only one, Currumbin, in Queensland.
To coincide with Leap Day 2012, Amphibian Ark has launched a new international event, Leaping Ahead of Extinction: A celebration of good news for amphibians in 2012.
The event has been timed to coincide with Leap Day (February 29, 2012) and promotes the great successes in the conservation of amphibians in captivity and in the wild.
The focus is on institutions that are managing amphibian rescue or supplementation programs, recommended either during an Ark conservation needs assessment, or by national governments or field experts.
Sales and Marketing Director Greg Daven said Currumbin have a “Frog Box” on site at the sanctuary and have been involved in breeding and releasing Spotted Tree Frogs back into the wild at Mt Kosciuszko National Park in conjunction with National Parks and Wildlife.
He said there were 6200 species of frog in the world and 30 per cent of that number were in danger – 165 are already extinct.
To celebrate Leap Frog the sanctuary is running a number of initiatives including a visit from Pobblebonk the mascot frog on Leapfrog day and building frog bogs.
Educationaly speaking they will run Eco Ranger activities this weekend. The program is aimed at children aged 5-12 and will teach children about tree frogs, how to build a frog pond in their own backyard or school and what toad eggs look like.
The Creature Keeper program, aimed at High School students aged 12-17 will also be held. The night will feature toading and pizza. Last time a toading event was held 43 kilograms of toads were collected from the Sanctuary.
For further information head to the website or contact the Sanctuary.
