At first glance, some may think it is silly to have a "Save the Frogs" day. There is, however, good reason for alarm and good reason for us to take heed.

Frog populations have been declining worldwide at unprecedented rates, and nearly one-third of the world’s 6,418 amphibian species are threatened with extinction. At least 100 species have completely disappeared since 1980, and this is NOT normal: amphibians naturally go extinct at a rate of only about one species every 250 years!!!

It is important for us to pay close attention to this. When species disappear like this it is an indication that something is amiss in our environment. The current swine flu outbreak is evidence of how connected we are as components in our environment. Close attention needs to be focused on our environment.

Frog populations are faced with an onslaught of environmental problems: pollution, infectious diseases, habitat loss, invasive species, climate change, and over-harvesting for the pet and food trades. Unless these problems are remedied, amphibian species will continue to disappear, resulting in irreversible consequences to the planet’s ecosystems.