CAPTURING THE VANISHING FROG
Animal Planet and Clorox have joined forces to focus worldwide attention on the deadly fungus that is destroying frogs and other amphibian populations around the world through a new multimedia project called THE VANISHING FROG. The film, produced by Discovery Studios, sends Animal Planet's Jeff Corwin on a worldwide mission that uncovers clues to the frog's deadly plight while also unifying viewers with a common cause of environmental protection of wildlife resources. THE VANISHING FROG premiered on Nov. 20.
From the rocky streams of coastal Australia to the jungles of South America, and even to the American West, the world's frogs are mysteriously vanishing at alarming rates. Frogs and their relatives have thrived on earth for more than 360 million years, but now they're under serious threat. Experts believe that as many as one-third to one-half of the planet's 6,000 amphibian species are in danger of disappearing — victims of one of the most significant mass extinctions since the dinosaurs. Why are amphibians in such dire straits? And can we take action to save them? Jeff Corwin, who has experienced the most mammoth of mammals, reptiles and marine life worldwide, took on these questions in the documentary The Vanishing Frog.
"Frogs are incredibly amazing creatures with a variety of astonishing skills and innate abilities," Corwin said. "The plight of the small amphibians is — unfortunately — quite large. Frogs have been with us since the dinosaurs; they are a critical part of the ecosystem and now they are disappearing."
"Jeff is so passionate about raising awareness for this crisis and has such a deep knowledge of the issues affecting these fascinating creatures that he is the perfect person to take us on this journey of discovery," noted Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager of Animal Planet. "We're thrilled that our partner The Clorox Company has been an ardent advocate for the amphibian crisis and is taking that commitment even further by partnering with us to produce The Vanishing Frog documentary project."
The Clorox Company, whose namesake bleach is used in the field everyday in the battle to save the frogs, last fall became the first corporate sponsor of the Amphibian Ark's "Year of the Frog" initiative and signed on to The Vanishing Frog project while it was still in development.
Hop to it - Save the Frogs!
Join us in the fight. It's easy. Purchase a special Save the Frogs youth T-shirt to support the global amphibian rescue effort. This is the gift that gives back. For every T-shirt purchased, $4 will be donated directly to Amphibian Ark. The remaining amount of $6 covers the cost of the T-shirt. Purchase T-shirts HERE!
For more information visit www.savethefrog.com
How Clorox is Helping
Clorox Regular Bleach is one of the most important tools in Amphibian Ark's fight to save the frogs.
Frogs are treated with anti-fungal medicine and anything else that has contact with water during amphibian rescue is treated with a bleach solution, from boots and clothing to instruments and transport containers, to be sure researchers are not spreading the fungus to new, uncontaminated areas. When zoos and aquariums bring frogs into protective custody, the enclosures also must be treated with a bleach solution daily for the first few weeks to be sure they help control the spread of fungus.
