COLOMBO — Environmental activists in Sri Lanka are celebrating the end of a 2020 decree that left the island’s nonprotected forests more vulnerable to agriculture and development projects. “This is a landmark victory for the protection of these important forests, securing their long-term conservation,” said Eric Wikramanayake, chair of the Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL). The […]
Tag: amphibians
Frogs Face Dire Threats from Climate Change and Habitat Loss
A recent study in Nature Climate change reveals alarming news for frog populations worldwide. Due to increasing aridity caused by climate change, scientists predict that by 2080 to 2100, between 7 percent and over one-third of frog habitats may become too dry for survival. If human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, isn’t curtailed, […]
Yes, some animals can have babies without a mate. Here’s how
A boa constrictor in the U.K. gave birth to 14 babies—without a mate. Is it a miracle? The result of a secret rendezvous? Probably not. Females of species have the ability to reproduce asexually, without sperm from a male. The process is called parthenogenesis, from the Greek words for “virgin” and “birth.” Some plants and […]
Today April 28th is Save the Frogs Day
Your world is busy fast paced and loud, running to catch up with your lives and whatever your crowd. But in the middle of this far and near, we frogs and amphibians are starting to disappear. The croaks and the ribbits the folklore you created… without your help to extinction we are fated. We are […]
People Encouraged to Freeze Toads to Death in National Cull
Thousands of invasive toads are about to be killed by Australian locals as the annual Great Cane Toad Bust kicks off, with experts urging participants to euthanize the amphibians humanely using the “cool-and-freeze” method. The Bust, organized by environmental group Watergum, is due to start on January 13 and will last a week. Australian residents […]
4 Things About Red-Eared Slider Turtles You Likely Haven’t Heard Of
There are over two hundred different species of sliders, and most of them reside in the Americas. These turtles are recognizably different from one another, with some having red or orange markings on their shells and heads. In this blog post, we will explore four things you likely haven’t heard of about red-eared sliders. From […]
Hidden in plain sight – Frogs and other wildlife of the Watagan Mountains
Stretching along the southern end of the Great Dividing Range, between the Hunter River Catchment and the Tuggerah Lakes, WataganMountains are part of the Eastern Escarpment World Heritage area. Only an hour’s drive north of Sydney, these mountains containpatches of rainforest that trace their origins to the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. Despite being made up […]
Getting hugs from a toad
Unlike ducks that refuse to stand still, frogs and toads are good models for photographers visiting ponds. They usually hold their poses for several minutes. They don’t do it for us. It’s their strategy to be inconspicuous so nearby creatures might make the mistake of getting within the reach of their mouth or long, sticky […]