For Immediate Release
Contact:  Gina Stiles (904) 757-4463, ext. 210; 904-655-3632; gtilesg@jacksonvillezoo.org

Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens Leading
the Charge in Northeast Florida to Save the Frogs!
New Conservation Center a Part of Global Effort to Prevent Extinction.

Jacksonville, FL, February 16, 2008 — The greatest mass extinction since the dinosaurs is happening in our time.  Frogs and other amphibian species from all over the world – even here in our own backyards – need our help to survive.  On February 16, 2008, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens officially opened its new “Save the Frogs!” amphibian conservation center. The center was created to provide a sanctuary for the threatened amphibians to be bred and returned to the wild, while promoting awareness and an educational experience for guests. The Zoo’s amphibian conservation center is located near the Australian exhibit.

“One of our goals is to maximize public, media and corporate awareness of this global threat. We want to encourage everyone to participate in the “Save the Frogs!” cause, says executive director Dennis Pate.

According to The World Conservation Unions’ Global Amphibian Assessment, one-third of amphibians worldwide are threatened with extinction and 165 species have already been lost.  The threat is due primarily to loss of habitat, pollution, climate changes, invasive species and a fast-spreading, infectious fungus called cytrid.  The loss of these animals has disastrous implications to the environment and our health.  For instance, frogs feed on mosquitoes and flies; therefore a world with few or no frogs means a world in ecological imbalance and with more disease.

For information on how you can participate in this important cause, visit jacksonvillezoo.org/conservation or the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens new “Save the Frogs! Conservation Center.

For over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment.  Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has grown to house more than 1,500 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species. The Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Located on Jacksonville’s north side two miles off I-95, the Zoo is open year-round, 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

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