A Threat the Size of the Earth

The next category of threats are those which indicate broad-scale or far-reaching problems with our global environment. These include:

• widespread pollution such as that which is causing some of the deformed frogs problems in the USA
• parasites (which are another cause of deformed frogs in the US)
• introduced and migrating diseases such as viruses and the dreaded chytrid fungus
• increased salinity in soils
• increased UV-B and solar radiation due to a damaged ozone layer
• major habitat loss such as the destruction of tropical rainforests
• climate change/global warming and droughts
• slaughter for the frog leg trade
• capture (and sometimes smuggling) for the pet trade

Since the startup of the Cairns Frog Hospital, some very interesting cases have come to light, some of which are scientifically significant. For example, the incidence of cancer in frogs is exceptionally rare but we've already had seven confirmed cancer cases in Cairns. Three types of tumours have been seen on frogs arriving for care including a dozen or so cases of a benign tumour called an 'inverted papilloma'.

Each of these broad-based threats represent drastic and major changes we are making to our planet's capacity to support life (including our own - just look at the statistics showing dramatic increases in cancer, aids, new virus strains like Sydney flu and SARS, etc.) For more information on this larger category of threats, visit our links page which will direct you to key sites for amphibian disease, deformed frogs and many other informative places to learn more about frogs.