Frog lovers are being invited to celebrate an international "Leaping Ahead of Extinction" event in Dunedin today.
The event, at the University of Otago zoology department, focuses not only on the plight of amphibians, including frogs, toads and salamanders, but also highlights "good news" about conservation moves to save them.
Members of the public are invited to visit a display at the department, at 340 Great King St, at which two species of frog will be present- the endangered Australian Green and Golden Bell frog and the Southern Bell frog.
Zoologist Associate Prof Phil Bishop, who will talk to visitors during the day, said many frog species throughout the world were endangered, with habitat destruction one of the greatest threats.
The future for amphibians and frogs was "not all doom and gloom", with conservation efforts "making some headway" with the most critically endangered species by taking them temporarily into captivity and breeding "insurance" populations, he said.
People in 17 countries, including the United States and Australia, are participating in the celebration, which is being organised in association with Amphibian Ark.
Prof Bishop is an executive member of the group, which involves an international joint effort to ensure global survival of frogs and other amphibians.
New Zealand is home to four surviving endemic frog species and three other frog species introduced from Australia in the 19th century.
