CAPITAL TIMES (Madison, Wisconsin) 12 September 06 Vilas Zoo at forefront in saving frogs - New exhibit displays, protects (Jonah Huang)
The bodies lay motionless over the forest floor. It was unlike any murder case researchers had ever seen before.
The victims fit no single profile. They were from different parts of the world and were even different species. Their only major link is that they are all victims of a worldwide murder case 20 years in the making. The suspected killers are habitat destruction and disease caused by chytrid fungus. The victims are frogs and amphibians around the world.
For the past few decades, frogs and amphibians in general have been disappearing at alarming rates. At least 113 species are reported to be extinct and over one-third of the amphibian population is globally endangered, according to an April 17 article in "Current Science" magazine.
While studying this mysterious fungus, efforts - including a significant one in Madison - are also being made to save endangered frog species before it is too late. A June 6 article in the New York Times, for example, described the extraordinary efforts of two Atlanta conservationists to save 150 frogs from Panama by hauling them out in suitcases before a waterborne form of the chytrid fungus reached the national park where they lived.
The fungus is seen in Australia and Central and South America. Little is known about how the disease develops from the fungus, but scientists do know that chytrid is absorbed through the amphibians' skin. The disease attacks the frogs' respiratory systems, killing them within days.
Signs of the fungus first appeared in the 1970s but did not become a major problem until more recently. Many researchers believe that the effects of global warming are allowing the fungus to spread.
Saving the frogs: The new frog exhibit at Henry Vilas Zoo is a leader in combating this species loss, which has taken a heavy toll on frogs.
"If we're not able to turn around the spread of the chytrid fungus and stop the loss of habitat and pollution, we'll lose these valuable animals," said Vilas Zoo director Jim Hubing.
The frog exhibit contains about 16 endangered species from Panama, and will soon be adding Costa Rican frogs to the collection. There are more than 100 varieties in all. For the most part, the frogs were transferred from other zoos and herpetariums, but some were rescued from the wild, Hubing said.
Inside the exhibit, Plexiglas terrariums simulate a lush rainforest habitat. Great efforts have been made to keep the mini habitats as realistic as possible.
Thunderstorms, sunrises and sunsets are created with state of the art equipment and technology to make the frogs feel at home.
This unique exhibit is the only one of its kind in the United States. Not only does it educate the public about these rare frogs, but it also allows zookeepers to breed frogs and augment a dwindling wild population.
"We've had some initial success with glass frogs," Hubing said. These frogs have skin so translucent that their internal organs can be seen.
In addition, visitors to the zoo have reacted well to the new exhibit.
"They are absolutely fascinated by them," says Hubing. "By the beauty of the animals and beautiful plantings."
Vilas Zoo at forefront in saving frogs