Frogs, toads, and salamanders across the globe are now under attack by a wide range of pathogens that slows down their immune system. Such a threat should not be taken lightly as its effects could cause major devastation of the amphibian population across continents.
This is the stark warning provided by leading zoological experts prior to their gathering in London to talk about a plan on how to fight these global killers. The emergency plan also includes a plan on how to save the endangered creatures of the world. "The amphibians of the world are now suffering from a new crisis. This one is now caused by multiple pathogens," said Professor Trent Garner. He is the head of the Zoological Society of London who is hosting a conference were potential solutions will be discussed. "We desperately need a plan to protect these species and fight off the pathogens."
Thirty years ago, the experts began to notice the decrease in the number of amphibians in the world. Most of them were reported to be dying of then an emergency disease caused by a fungal infection. In truth, reports show that there have been at least 100 species of toads and frogs that have been wiped off the planet because of such infection. The list includes the golden toad in Costa Rica as well as the gastric brooding frogs of Australia.
"The crucial point to all these concerns is the fact that these pathogens no longer act or survive on their own," Garner added. "The pathogens are now interacting resulting to deadly combinations that kill off more amphibians than one could imagine. They bring about results that could be worse than if these pathogens acted alone."
Apart from its apparent effect on the number of amphibians in the environment, the reduced number of frogs and toads in the environment could bring about unwanted imbalances in the ecosystem. Newts, toads, and frogs play a huge role in keeping the balance healthy. For example, the frogs are responsible for eating mosquitoes that could bring deadly diseases. Frogs also serve as food for birds and other animals.
"To date, Britain remains to be lucky," Garner said. "There hasn't been any record of mass mortalities among its amphibians unlike those reported in other countries." In the government's desire to put an end to this crisis, the public was urged to report sightings of sick or dead amphibians. The Garden Wildlife Health is one of those that help spread out information concerning people who move eggs and tadpoles from one pond to another.
"Putting a stop to these movements could help prevent the spread of diseases," Garner said. "Anything that the government can do to help reduce the pressure of these creatures is truly helpful."
The conference where these issues will be discussed will truly help prevent the worse from happening. After all, this is not just about frogs or their decreasing number in the environment. It is also about keeping the balance in the ecosystem.
