Each year, the Kansas City Zoo Run features a different endangered species. This year, our featured endangered species is the FROG!

2008 has been declared the Year of the Frog to raise awareness of the extinction of amphibian species - the most significant since the dinosaur. Amphibians are severely affected by habitat loss, climate change, pollution, pesticides, introduced species and over-collection for food and pets. The most immediate threat to amphibians is a parasitic fungus called amphibian chytrid, currently unstoppable and untreatable in the wild that could kill 80% of native amphibians within months.

The Kansas City Zoo is raising funds for the Year of the Frog to help raise awareness of the value of frogs and amphibians to a healthy world. They play an important role in the food web as both predator and prey, eating insects which benefits agriculture and minimizes diseases spread and their skin offers promising medical cures. Nine species of frogs will go on display at the Kansas City Zoo in 2008 with additional behind the scenes conservation programs.