UNION-TRIBUNE (San Diego, California) 11 July 08 Plight of frogs put on display - Festival, exhibit point attention to amphibian crisis (Marcia Manna)
Encinitas: A seemingly smug American bullfrog sits on a lily pad throne and watches the efforts being made to catch him. The Quail Botanical Gardens' pond has been a frog's kingdom for a decade, and its hiding spots are well-known.
Volunteer Ed Simpson strides through the water wearing hip waders, armed with a long-handled yellow net. He's determined to catch the amphibian for an exhibit featured at the garden's Insect & Garden Festival tomorrow and Sunday. Much to Simpson's frustration, the frog leaps before his net can snag it.
“Ed knows water critters, but that pond is not easy to negotiate,” said Julian Duval, the garden's president and chief executive officer. “It's slippery, and it's hard to get in and out of.”
This year's festival recognizes The Year of the Frog, a declaration made by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and other international groups concerned by grim statistics. They report that more than one-third of the planet's 6,000 amphibian species are threatened with extinction. Some researchers suggest that a fungus outbreak, possibly tied to global warning, is responsible. The Year of the Frog is intended to raise money and awareness for amphibian conservation.
“People deserve to know what's going on,” Duval said. “Frogs are an important indicator species in terms of our environmental health. Amphibians are thin-skinned and more susceptible to different pollutants.”
The American bullfrog is not at risk. The carnivorous species is an uninvited guest in California and threatens native frogs. But the few bullfrogs living at the Quail Botanical Gardens serve a purpose at the festival and stay within a specific area.
Guests can feed them at the pond or see them up close in display cases at the “Creatures of the Pond” exhibit. That part of the festival, manned by Simpson, will present a variety of aquatic bugs including a water boatman, with fringed, oarlike hind legs, and pond skaters that can run across the surface of still water. Though touching the frogs and insects is prohibited, there is an interactive element.
“We give kids a baggie of crickets, and they can feed the lizards and bullfrogs,” Duval said. “It's exciting to see.”
The San Diego Herpetological Society will exhibit an African pixie frog, the California Pacific tree frog, the threatened Western spadefoot toad and the Australian White's tree frog. The show also will have insect, bird and butterfly displays and a returning event that incites dares among kids – mealworm tastings.
“My wife prepares them, and she has a preparation technique that she has perfected,” Duval said.
“She washes the mealworms and freezes them. Then she sautés them in olive oil.” After that, they are spiced with Cajun, garlic or Mexican seasonings.
“When the new kids come, they'll say, 'Oooh, that's disgusting. I'd never eat a bug,' ” Duval said.
“But other kids run to eat them right away. Hopefully, it lets kids understand cultural differences. We were doing this long before the 'Fear Factor' and 'Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern' ” television shows.”
Duval has worked at Quail Botanical Gardens for 14 years and lives on the grounds. He said one of his first jobs was working as a keeper in the reptile house at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Frogs and reptiles have captured his interest since he was a boy.
The annual Insect & Garden Festival, Duval said, provides an entertaining way of teaching children about insects and amphibians and why they are significant to the environment.
“I believe kids need outside experiences,” he said.
“As wonderful as virtual reality is, Mother Nature provides the best show in town.”
Plight of frogs put on display