The week around the world in 20 pictures

A European tree frog, once native to the UK, now huddles in an enclosure at Celtic Rewilding in Staffordshire. Its likely fate - extinction due to habitat loss and over-collection for medicinal purposes in the 16th or 17th century.

Conservationists are working towards reintroducing three amphibian species - agile frogs, moor frogs, and European tree frogs - as well as the European pond turtle, all of which have vanished from Britain due to human activity before industrialisation. Land degradation and climate breakdown are cited as major factors in their decline.

omg can you even believe this?? europeans just keep messing up the environment and now we're gonna lose these adorable tree frogs they were once native to the uk but now they're literally living in a tiny enclosure like some sort of zoo animal it's all because of habitat loss and people collecting them for medicinal purposes back in the day like 16th or 17th century... who knew that would lead to their extinction? conservationists are trying to bring back these species but it's not gonna be easy land degradation and climate change are huge problems we need to figure out a way to stop messing up our planet so these cute little frogs can thrive again

omg this is so wild like what even happened to these little guys? they used to be roaming around uk but now they're stuck in a tiny enclosure i mean conservationists are trying to bring them back but its gonna be tough climate change and land degradation are huge problems we need to tackle ASAP i'm not even mad that they're working on reintroducing more species tho european pond turtles would be so cool can you imagine having those guys swimming in british lakes again? its time for us to take responsibility and make a change

I'm really worried about these poor little guys . It's crazy to think that something as small and cute as a tree frog can almost become extinct because of humans doing stuff we shouldn't be doing. I mean, habitat loss is super obvious - we've got all this development and stuff going on without thinking about where it's gonna leave the wildlife . And over-collection for medicine? That's just...I don't know, that feels so unnecessary .

It's not like these frogs were hurting anyone, you know? They're just trying to live their lives and survive in a world that's changing way too fast . But at the same time, I'm all for conservation efforts - reintroducing these species is a great idea . Maybe if we can get people on board with preserving our natural habitats and stuff, we can actually turn this around . It's not gonna be easy, but...I dunno, maybe there's hope?

I'm really disheartened to see the plight of the European tree frog . It's appalling that such a unique species has been reduced to living in an enclosure at Celtic Rewilding, its numbers dwindling due to habitat loss and historical over-collection for medicinal purposes. The fact that it might become extinct due to human activity is just devastating .

It's heartening to know that conservationists are working towards reintroducing these species back into the wild, though . However, I'm skeptical about the effectiveness of such efforts given the magnitude of land degradation and climate breakdown . We need a more comprehensive approach to address these systemic issues before we can even consider saving these species.

I wonder if we're prioritizing short-term conservation gains over long-term ecological sustainability . Either way, I hope that the reintroduction efforts are successful and help to restore biodiversity in Britain .

Ugh, can you believe what's happening to our wildlife? I mean, I remember reading about these little guys in school, they were just so cute . And now they're all but gone from the UK. It's like a flashback to when my grandparents used to talk about how wild and free nature was back in the day... they even had stories about seeing frogs hopping around their gardens!

I feel like we've lost touch with our connection to the natural world, you know? We're so caught up in our lives that we forget that every species is a reminder of the beauty and wonder of our planet. These conservationists are trying their best, I'll give 'em that, but it's just not the same as having them roaming free in the wild.

I wish I could see these little guys thriving again, you know? Reintroducing them into the wild would be like a breath of fresh air ... I'm getting all sentimental over here

I'm literally so sad for that little guy . I mean, can you even believe it's been extinct in the UK for like centuries? It just goes to show how much our actions can impact the environment, you know? Habitat loss and over-collection are huge problems that need to be addressed ASAP.

I'm actually really excited to hear about conservation efforts to reintroduce these species though! I think it's amazing that people are working hard to bring back some of the wildlife that we've lost. The agile frogs, moor frogs, and European tree frogs all sound like super cool creatures, and I'd love to see them thrive in Britain again.

It's crazy how climate change is affecting amphibian populations - we really need to take action on reducing our carbon footprint and taking care of the planet . Every little bit helps, right? Maybe one day we'll be able to say that these species are thriving again and it'll be a real feel-good moment .

I'm low-key bummed about this news . Did you know that the UK's amphibian population has declined by 60% since the 1970s? It's like, what happened to all those little frogs and turtles? The European tree frog is one of the most iconic ones... it's crazy that we've lost them due to human activities . I mean, I get that our ancestors used to collect them for medicinal purposes, but come on! Did you know that amphibians have a huge role in maintaining ecosystem balance? They help keep bug populations under control, and they're an important food source for other animals too

Let's do some crazy stats here... did you know that the UK is home to over 500 species of wild plants and animals, but only about 20% of those are amphibians? That's like, a whole lot of biodiversity lost! Anyway, I'm all for conservation efforts . Let's get those frogs hopping again and bring back our lost friends to the UK ecosystem

omg have you guys seen the state of our wildlife lately?! i mean british wildlife is literally dying off left and right and it's just devastating... a european tree frog that was once roaming free in the uk now has to live in some enclosure at a rewilding center in staffordshire like what happened to them?! habitat loss and over-collection for medicinal purposes in the 1600s? that's just crazy... and now they're trying to reintroduce other species like agile frogs, moor frogs, and european pond turtles? it's about time we step up our conservation game but seriously though, land degradation and climate breakdown are major factors here... we need to take action ASAP before it's too late

I'm not gonna sit on the fence here... I think conservationists are being a bit too hasty with the reintroduction plan. I mean, we're talking about species that have been extinct for centuries - it's not like they can just waltz back into Britain and expect everything to be okay. Habitat loss is one thing, but what about the impact of bringing them back? It could disrupt the ecosystem and cause more problems in the long run. Plus, we're talking about species that were already struggling before industrialisation - it's like trying to put a Band-Aid on a broken heart. Maybe instead of rushing into things, we should be taking a step back and studying the impact of our actions on the environment? Just saying...

ugh its so sad what happened to these tiny creatures they were here like 500 yrs ago and now were almost gone... habitat loss and people taking them for meds is just awful conservation efforts sound good tho, gotta give em credit for tryin to bring back some species gotta wonder tho, how many more are out there in the wild that we dont even no about? its crazy what humans can do to nature

ugh it's so sad that these little creatures have to fight for survival like who does this to us? they were just living their best lives, being cute and all, and then BAM! humans come along and start taking them away from their homes and now they're stuck in some tiny enclosure with nothing but time to think about how bad it's going to be for them... extinction is such a harsh word it's like... what even is the point of having these beautiful little guys around if we're just gonna drive them outta existence?