Working to save our animal populations is no small task, and no one can do it alone. That’s why the Vancouver Aquarium is excited to join forces with like-minded partners such as Earth Rangers, a charitable organization that works to educate children across Canada about the importance of biodiversity.
Vancouver Aquarium is just one organization that is partnering with Earth Rangers on its Bring Back the Wild conservation projects, which launched this month – just in time for the new school year. The goal of these projects are to educate children and their families on the importance of biodiversity, and to raise support to restore endangered habitats across Canada.
Together, the two organizations are working to increase the population of Oregon spotted frogs (Rana Pretiosa) in Aldergrove Lake Regional Park, British Columbia. Why do we care so much about this species? Well, the Oregon spotted frog happens to be the most endangered amphibian in Canada. Early last century, there were hundreds of thousands of Oregon spotted frogs from northern California up into B.C.’s Fraser Valley. Due to habitat destruction and the introduction of non-native species, their numbers have dropped as much as 90 per cent.
The Oregon spotted frog is locally extinct in California, endangered in B.C. and Washington and at risk in Oregon. This means that their populations are at critically low levels.
Vancouver Aquarium is committed to the conservation of Oregon spotted frogs. The Aquarium joined the Oregon Spotted Frog Recovery Team in 2000 to help save them in B.C. Since then, we became the first to breed them in an aquarium environment. We’ve also hatched and raised tadpoles, which we released into their natural habitat. As a continuing part of this commitment, the Aquarium is now partnering with Earth Rangers to “bring back” the most endangered amphibian species in the country in yet another way.
Learn more about Bring Back the Wild programs here, as there are a number of other important animals that Earth Rangers, along with other conservation partners, are working to save.