DarkMatterDuck
Well-known member
A European Tree Frog Perches on the Brink of Extinction in England.
In the rolling hills of Leek, Staffordshire, a tiny inhabitant of Celtic Rewilding's enclosure has a story to tell. The once-native European tree frog, Hyla arborea, now sits amidst a landscape eerily devoid of its kind. Its probable extinction in 16th or 17th century England – the result of habitat loss and over-collection for medicinal purposes – serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact human activity can have on our environment.
The plight of this amphibian is just one example of the pre-industrial human footprint that has ravaged Britain's ecosystems. With land degradation, climate breakdown, and overcollection taking their toll, many species like the European tree frog have become extinct in the country. Efforts to reintroduce three native frog species – agile frogs, moor frogs, and European tree frogs – are underway at Celtic Rewilding, an ambitious endeavor aimed at rewilding Britain's ecosystems.
However, the task will be a long shot, requiring significant conservation efforts and cooperation between experts. The decline of amphibian populations worldwide is an alarming trend that demands urgent attention from policymakers and scientists alike. As we struggle to mitigate the effects of climate change and restore damaged habitats, it is crucial to recognize the critical role these tiny creatures play in maintaining the delicate balance of our ecosystem.
A tiny but vital piece of England's natural heritage hangs precariously in the balance – can concerted action revive a species thought lost forever?
In the rolling hills of Leek, Staffordshire, a tiny inhabitant of Celtic Rewilding's enclosure has a story to tell. The once-native European tree frog, Hyla arborea, now sits amidst a landscape eerily devoid of its kind. Its probable extinction in 16th or 17th century England – the result of habitat loss and over-collection for medicinal purposes – serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact human activity can have on our environment.
The plight of this amphibian is just one example of the pre-industrial human footprint that has ravaged Britain's ecosystems. With land degradation, climate breakdown, and overcollection taking their toll, many species like the European tree frog have become extinct in the country. Efforts to reintroduce three native frog species – agile frogs, moor frogs, and European tree frogs – are underway at Celtic Rewilding, an ambitious endeavor aimed at rewilding Britain's ecosystems.
However, the task will be a long shot, requiring significant conservation efforts and cooperation between experts. The decline of amphibian populations worldwide is an alarming trend that demands urgent attention from policymakers and scientists alike. As we struggle to mitigate the effects of climate change and restore damaged habitats, it is crucial to recognize the critical role these tiny creatures play in maintaining the delicate balance of our ecosystem.
A tiny but vital piece of England's natural heritage hangs precariously in the balance – can concerted action revive a species thought lost forever?
I mean, come on! We're talking about an entire species on the brink of extinction just because we humans messed up our environment. Habitat loss and over-collection for meds... what's next? 
The world is already losing so many amazing creatures due to climate change. Can't we do better than this? 
It's all about balance, you know? The ecosystem is like a big team effort, and frogs are just tiny but crucial members of that team. We need to step up our conservation game ASAP! 
What's the plan with these efforts to reintroduce frog species? Is it gonna work? 
I'm literally devastated reading about the European tree frog's situation... like, we're already losing so many species due to human neglect & it's just not okay 
. We need to take immediate action & work together as a global community to preserve our planet's biodiversity! Rewilding Britain sounds like an amazing initiative – fingers crossed that it'll make a difference 
i feel like we need to take care of our planet way more than just for ourselves but for all the tiny creatures like these frogs 
i mean think about how much biodiversity we'll lose if they keep disappearing 
I'm calling BS on this story. First off, what's with the specific location of Leek, Staffordshire? Why did it have to be there specifically? And what makes 16th or 17th century England the exact timeline for extinction? Can we get some reliable sources on that? I mean, I know humans were always messing with nature, but come on! 
Also, "ambitious endeavor aimed at rewilding Britain's ecosystems"? Sounds like a PR stunt to me. We need concrete data and evidence, not just feel-good stories about saving the tree frogs 
I'm not sure reintroducing these frogs is gonna make a huge difference. Like, have we really learned from the past? We took out the European tree frog in the first place because of our own doing... how much do we actually know about what's needed to bring 'em back? 
And what about the habitat? We can't just pop these frogs in a controlled environment and expect them to thrive. The ecosystem is way more complex than that. I'm not saying it's not worth trying, but let's be realistic here... we're talking about reviving an entire species after centuries of destruction 
. Like what's going on with climate change 
and pollution 
, can't we just chill for a sec? 
and helping out 
!
. Have you guys heard anything about the conservation efforts at Celtic Rewilding? 
. What do u think we can do as individuals to make a difference?
this is so sad. i mean, its not like we didn't know about the frogs being in trouble 
...i guess what worries me is that we're just starting to realize how much damage humans can do to nature, and by then, it's often too late for species like the european tree frog 
? maybe we can learn from this and be more proactive about conservation 
Where's the data? How do we know this wasn't just a matter of being too rare to begin with? 
. We need to get our act together and stop messing with nature 
... i mean, who even knew they were ever there to begin with? it's crazy how humans can just wipe out an entire species like that... habitat loss and over-collection for meds are like, basic facts of our world now 
. it's almost like, we're just winging it at this point 
. seriously though, though... these tiny creatures are the real MVPs of our ecosystem