Dr. Kerry Kriger—the founder of Save The Frogs!, which describes itself as the world’s leading amphibian conservation organization—reconstructs the distinctive path he traveled academically and geographically (including a mechanical engineering undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia; studying endangered birds in Hawaii, alongside PhD students; earning his own PhD in environmental science at a university in Australia) en route to launching Save The Frogs! 
Kriger discusses the dramatically dwindling amphibian population, and the reasons for it, chiefly habitat destruction, but noting another significant cause is Chytridiomycosis, an infectious disease that has knocked out entire amphibian species (the topic of Kriger’s doctoral dissertation). Kriger also addresses the geographic and other factors that influence the scope, or existence at all, of species going extinct, noting an enormously detrimental element is the enterprise of having amphibians as pets, and everything that goes with that. Offsetting a bit the bleak news that upwards of 200 species have
disappeared altogether since 1980, Kriger points out that new amphibian species are discovered regularly. Partly spurred by one of the listener calls, Kriger also spends a few minutes talking about Bufo toads, also known as cane toads, which have become the scourge of many parts of the world, including Florida (which Kriger called “the invasive species capitol of the world”) He outlines some of the resources and services Save The Frogs! offers, including eco-tours in 2019 to Ecuador, Costa Rica and New Orleans. (https://www.savethefrogs.com)
ALSO: I spoke with Fred Eppsteiner about a panel discussion to be held from 7:30-9pm on Sept. 7 at the Florida Community of Mindfulness in Tampa. The panel is entitled “Healing Your Body, Healing The Earth: Transitioning to a Plant-based Diet” and will feature Dr. Koushik Reddy, a cardiologist; Isabelle Tassi, an attorney and founder of the Tampa Bay Veg Fest; and Eppsteiner himself, a Buddhist teacher, retired therapist, and longtime vegetarian/vegan. (https://www.floridamindfulness.org)
COMEDY CORNER: Mitch Hedberg’s “Smackie The Frog” (portion)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Rolf Harris’ “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport”
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