April 28 was Save the Frogs Day. (Photo courtesy of the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project)
Volunteering for the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project reached a whole new level of awesomeness when we organized an event for the 4th Annual Save the Frogs Day. Being able to spread the word about global amphibian declines and the status of Panama’s amphibian population was a rewarding way to spend the day at the Summit Municipal Park where the project is located. More than 200 events in 39 countries took place in this year’s Save the Frogs Day.
On April 28, we arrived at the park during the tranquility of the early morning to set up our tables and chairs amidst the chattering of the capuchin monkeys, while the parrots never tired of greeting us with their cheerful “hola.” Meanwhile in another part of the park, our star attractions were enjoying their climate-controlled habitat, as their likeness was depicted in coloring sheets for kids to learn about the importance of our endangered amphibian friends. Once the families started arriving, kids and parents alike were welcomed under our tent to color, paint, make frog masks, and get their questions answered about amphibian conservation. In the span of just a few hours, we had an impressive wall of frog art paintings hanging out to dry, which the kids took home as a reminder about saving the frogs and their environment. They will perhaps become the next generation of amphibian conservationists.
–Erica Wrona, volunteer for the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project