PROJECT GOAL $250,000
- 60%
ABOUT THE PROJECT
While frogs have been part of the landscape for at least 250 million years, they have experienced mass extinction since the 1970s. Once found in abundance across Alberta and British Columbia, the Northern Leopard frog is no exception.
The Northern Leopard frog population of British Columbia— known as the Rocky Mountain population— is listed as Endangered. The only surviving native population is currently protected within the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area. Northern Leopard frogs of Alberta are known as the Prairie population and are listed as Special Concern. They are no longer found in the Edmonton Area.
We are excited to announce the Edmonton Valley Zoo has joined the Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Team to help save the last remaining population in British Columbia!
What the zoo is doing…
On October 31st, 2019, 22 juvenile Northern Leopard frogs arrived at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. The goal of the Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Project is to breed captive individuals, producing healthy tadpoles. These tadpoles will then be released into specific areas of British Columbia, increasing their population in the wild and reversing the distressing decline.
During May, the zookeepers will slowly raise the water temperature to 15C, waking the frogs from their winter hibernation. The frogs will mate throughout the spring months, and each female frog will lay an egg mass containing 300-6,500 eggs. As the eggs hatch, the tadpoles will be closely cared for and monitored. Over the summer, the tadpoles will be relocated from the EVZ to targeted areas across British Columbia by the Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Team.
MAKE A DONATION
Make a donation through Canada Helps of $25 or more and we’ll mail you a Northern Leopard Frog Magnet and a tax receipt for your donation!
WHAT THE VZDS IS DOING…
The Valley Zoo Development Society is currently raising $250,000 to assist in these efforts. This vital funding will be used towards:
Conservation: Building THREE more outdoor habitats, new coolers for winter hibernation, and an onsite biologist to research ways to ensure our program is successful.
Education: Adding a deck on the Northern Leopard frog trailer so visitors can see the science and the work done inside, constructing a play and interpretive area between the trailer and the outdoor habitats so kids can enjoy an experiential learning, and a game of Hop Scotch Frog!
Ways you can help!
Make a tax receipt eligible donation using the Canada Helps donation form above. Or, become a Northern Leopard Frog Project sponsor by sponsoring:
- the trailer for $50,000 ($10,000 a year for five years):
- a biologist research project for 1 season $20,000
- an outdoor habitat $7,000
- a release (transportation costs) $3,000
- hibernation tanks $1,000
To sponsor, please contact Tammy Wiebe at 780.496.6924 or by email at donate@buildingourzoo.com.