Dear World Wildlife Fund,
Over the past few months I have been writing on this blog about amphibian conservation which is a topic that is very close to my heart. While writing these posts I have had to do a lot of research about the dangers that amphibians face and the conservation groups that are trying to help save them from extinction.
One of the most well-known conservation groups is you, the World Wildlife Fund. When I began this blog I thought that your organization and website would be able to provide me with a plethora of information on endangered amphibians. One day while browsing your site for information on amphibians you help protect I was shocked to find that you only recognize one type of amphibian on your list.
Over the past few months I have been writing on this blog about amphibian conservation which is a topic that is very close to my heart. While writing these posts I have had to do a lot of research about the dangers that amphibians face and the conservation groups that are trying to help save them from extinction.
One of the most well-known conservation groups is you, the World Wildlife Fund. When I began this blog I thought that your organization and website would be able to provide me with a plethora of information on endangered amphibians. One day while browsing your site for information on amphibians you help protect I was shocked to find that you only recognize one type of amphibian on your list.
While looking on your website I discovered that you recognize 99 species that you feel are worth raising awareness and support for. This is an awesome! Unfortunately of those 99 species only one, the poisonous dart frog, is an amphibian. With over 1,800 amphibian species threatened I feel that far more amphibians should be making your World Wildlife Fund Specie’s List.
Let me start by saying you do a wonderful and amazing job at what you do. You have a passion that drives you to want to help all types of animals that cannot help themselves. You are the voice for those without one. I love elephants and it is disgusting that they are senselessly killed each day for their ivory. It sickens me to know that the polar bears lose part of their habitat every single year due to melting ice caps. Every cause that you fight for is a noble one and needs attention and funding and I understand that completely. A cause you fail to fight for as hard though is the conservation of amphibian species.
Very few people are aware that amphibians play a key role in maintaining the day to day lifestyle we lead. What is even worse is that they do not realize that many amphibian species are facing extinction.
Very few people are aware that amphibians play a key role in maintaining the day to day lifestyle we lead. What is even worse is that they do not realize that many amphibian species are facing extinction.
Scientists have pinpointed some of the major causes of the decline in amphibian species. NZFROG states that habitat loss, pollution, climate change, predators, and disease are some of the largest causes of amphibian loss. The biggest problem over the past thirty years has been the deadly chytrid fungus. According to AmphibiaWeb in the past thirty years the chytrid fungus has caused a drastic decline or extinction in more than 200 frog species.
Amphibians also face the growing issue of deforestation. In places such as Madagascar deforestation occurs a rate of 140,000 acres per year which causes a huge loss in frog and other amphibian habitats. 20% of Madagascar’s native frog population has been classified as threatened due to this massive loss of their habitat according to Jesse Lewis.
Amphibians also face the growing issue of deforestation. In places such as Madagascar deforestation occurs a rate of 140,000 acres per year which causes a huge loss in frog and other amphibian habitats. 20% of Madagascar’s native frog population has been classified as threatened due to this massive loss of their habitat according to Jesse Lewis.
Frogs all over the world eat insects and others creatures that carry deadly diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. When frogs begin to experience habitat loss or the lethal chytrid fungus the surrounding environment is greatly impacted. More bugs are left to roam the Earth and infect people with these diseases which causes a rise in illnesses and deaths.
Frogs also are a very valuable medical resource. PBS discusses the many things that amphibians can do for us such as taking Alkaloids from poison dart frogs and using them to make non-addictive painkillers. These same Alkaloids can be used to make medicines to fight Alzheimer’s disease. Peptides have been found in the Australian red-eyed tree frog that can potentially block HIV.
With just these few examples you can clearly see that without these creatures the entire world’s quality of life can be greatly impacted by the loss of frogs and other amphibians. These creatures are just as important if not more important than the other animals that you strive to protect through your organization.
The World Wildlife Fund reaches so many people every single day. 32% of your funding comes from individuals that know you do incredible things with their donations. You have a great opportunity to not only contribute more funds to amphibian conservation, but to educate more people on the issues that amphibians face.
With just these few examples you can clearly see that without these creatures the entire world’s quality of life can be greatly impacted by the loss of frogs and other amphibians. These creatures are just as important if not more important than the other animals that you strive to protect through your organization.
The World Wildlife Fund reaches so many people every single day. 32% of your funding comes from individuals that know you do incredible things with their donations. You have a great opportunity to not only contribute more funds to amphibian conservation, but to educate more people on the issues that amphibians face.
People need to know that without amphibians we would have so many more bugs and diseases in the world. I don’t know about you but everyone I know, including myself, can’t stand mosquitoes and other bugs make us itch. What many fail to realize is that without the amphibians that eat them we would be left with a many more bugs that bite and make people sick.
You can educate these people and let them know that their donations can go to towards conserving the environments that amphibians live in such as Madagascar. Their donations can also go towards the treatment of the chytrid fungus on infected frogs and other species. With their help the World Wildlife Fund in turn can help save the frog that may be able to cure HIV or maybe one day cancer.
You are in a position of power to help save these creatures that are such a vital part of our lives. You do amazing things every day to help stop poachers from killing the African Elephants. According to your website you are helping to double to world’s tiger population by 2022. Now you can also help save the Lemur Leaf frog that eats mosquitoes that carry Malaria in Panama. You can save poison dart frogs that releases an alkaloid that can be used to make non-addictive pain killers.
You, the World Wildlife Fund, have the chance to make all of these things possible. I truly hope to one day see one of your commercials talking about saving endangered amphibian species. I hope to see people get worked up at the thought of a frog species going extinct just as they get worked up about the poaching of rhinoceroses.
You can educate these people and let them know that their donations can go to towards conserving the environments that amphibians live in such as Madagascar. Their donations can also go towards the treatment of the chytrid fungus on infected frogs and other species. With their help the World Wildlife Fund in turn can help save the frog that may be able to cure HIV or maybe one day cancer.
You are in a position of power to help save these creatures that are such a vital part of our lives. You do amazing things every day to help stop poachers from killing the African Elephants. According to your website you are helping to double to world’s tiger population by 2022. Now you can also help save the Lemur Leaf frog that eats mosquitoes that carry Malaria in Panama. You can save poison dart frogs that releases an alkaloid that can be used to make non-addictive pain killers.
You, the World Wildlife Fund, have the chance to make all of these things possible. I truly hope to one day see one of your commercials talking about saving endangered amphibian species. I hope to see people get worked up at the thought of a frog species going extinct just as they get worked up about the poaching of rhinoceroses.
I hope you can see the same vision that I do.
Sincerely,
Madison Beasley
Sincerely,
Madison Beasley