WITH the official launch for the Year of the Frog at Sydney's Taronga Zoo (Tuesday 11th March 2008), Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is introducing a number of new conservation initiatives including the addition of a brand new frog facility in the park.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary CEO, Jonathan Fisher, has approved plans for the new facility that will exhibit and study a variety of frog species.

"The new amphibian research facility will enable us to protect a variety of endangered species of frogs that were moved to the Sanctuary due to environmental concerns in their previous habitat," Mr Fisher said.

The Sanctuary's Education Department is also getting involved with Year of the Frog activities by offering a 'Frog Focus Forum' for school students.

"Students who participate in the forum will discuss life cycles, threats to amphibians and what they as individuals can do to protect the endangered species.

"They will also have the opportunity of a meet-and-greet with a beautiful green tree frog named Handsome."

And in another Year of the Frog initiative, $1 from each student booking will be donated to the Amphibian Ark International Frog Charity," he said.

Students or teachers can book their group's place in the forum by phoning (07) 55340846. "These classes would make a fantastic educational school excursion or extracurricular activity for budding conservationists.

"With the launch of Year of the Frog at Taronga Zoo, many zoological parks all around Australia are engaging in their own conversation initiatives to ensure these creatures do not become extinct.

"The main goal of these campaigns is to generate public awareness of the amphibian extinction crisis which perhaps represents one of the greatest conservation challenges in history.