Help! Frogs may croak
THEY won't "ribbit" for much longer if the Cairns community doesn't Adopt A Frog.
Launched today, the Adopt A Frog campaign aims to create awareness of the declining rate of the green amphibians by supporting the research and rehabilitation duties the hospital carries out.
Founder and president of the foundation Deborah Pergolotti said since 1998, the hospital had received many sick and injured frogs and rehabilitation was an ongoing cost.
"There's a consistent wave of new diseases and if we don't find the funds, they (frogs) will disappear," Ms Pergolotti said.
"If they like their frogs and want them to continue to exist, we need their support."
Frog-lovers and anyone who supports the Frog Hospital's plight would be adopting a $5 card which buys a fold-out educational paper replica of a frog.
"It can sit on their desk at work or at home in the bedroom, anywhere they want," Ms Pergolotti said.
"We take in about 2100 frogs each year and have had 30,000 tadpoles in the last 10 years so that's almost a frog a day."
The hospital is involved in a major research project with the CSIRO, James Cook University and the Registry of Wildlife Pathology to investigate new diseases.
"Unfortunately, the funding received as a participant in that project could not be used to cover the care or recovery of any frog being returned to the wild," Ms Pergolotti said.
View Cairns frogs photo gallery.
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It's all things frog: Frog Hospital founder Deborah Pergolotti is launching an Adopt A Frog campaign.
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