Bruce Backs International 'Leapfrog' Day

12.01.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 29th Feb 2008

This Leap year day- or leapfrog day- (29th February) Malcolm Bruce MP is backing a campaign highlighting the dangers currently faced by many of the world's frogs and amphibians.

Malcolm Bruce is supporting 'leapfrog' day and the Amphibian Ark project. This photo was taken recently during Malcolm's visit to Brazil for climate change discussions.

The Amphibian Ark campaign declares 2008 as the year of the frog and has the backing of the global zoo community. It was formed in response to the alarming drop in the numbers of amphibian species; mainly due to the chytrid fungus disease which has had an impact in countries as far apart as Panama and Madagascar.

Amphibian Ark briefed MPs in the House of Commons earlier this week about their plans to preserve and house those species most at risk in an 'ark' (hence the name Amphibian Ark) in order to safeguard potentially important species which could ultimately provide clues for the development of new medicines.

Mr Bruce said:

"Our amphibians are in crisis with over a third of all species under threat of extinction in the immediate future. For every threatened bird or mammal species, two to three amphibian species could be lost.

"The most immediate factor for the decline in the global numbers of frogs is the spread of chytrid fungus but it is clear that the problem is exacerbated by global climate change and pollution. I recently went to the Brazilian rainforest for climate change discussions and saw at first hand conservation projects at work. I was overwhelmed at the stunning range of animals and species which all rely on a finely balanced ecosystem to survive and frogs have their role in this.

"It is important that we make sure that these valuable creatures and their habitats are protected before we lose them and I would urge people to sign up to the Amphibian Ark campaign to find out more."

ENDS