Large Chilean Frog at Risk from Climate Change
2024-12-30
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1A large frog species that lived alongside dinosaurs and is considered a "living fossil" is now losing ground in its native Chile.
2Climate change and human actions are damaging the creature's living environment, or habitat.
3The Helmeted Water Toad is one of the largest frogs in the world, growing up to over 30 centimeters in length and weighing up to one kilogram.
4The amphibian has experienced little genetic change for millions of years.
5But now its future is at risk, scientists say.
6"It's sad that a species that managed to coexist with dinosaurs, that managed to resist a mass extinction, is now threatened by human beings," said Melissa Cancino.
7Cancino is an animal doctor and founder of Proyecto Anfibia, a group that works on amphibian research and education in Chile.
8The Helmeted Water Toad's environment covers a large part of the country, but its population is suspected to have decreased by at least 30 percent since 1990.
9The creature is identified as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List.
10Climate change, habitat changes, environmental decline and pollution have all caused the Helmeted Water Toad's numbers to decline, Cancino said.
11Poor water and waste management have also threatened the frog's living environment.
12Matias Faundez, another member of Proyecto Anfibia, has seen the damage first hand.
13"This estuary runs through the whole city, and has plenty of illegal run-offs," he said as he walked through a stream outside of Valparaiso.
14"Even so," he added, "the frog manages to survive."
15I'm John Russell.
1A large frog species that lived alongside dinosaurs and is considered a "living fossil" is now losing ground in its native Chile. 2Climate change and human actions are damaging the creature's living environment, or habitat. 3The Helmeted Water Toad is one of the largest frogs in the world, growing up to over 30 centimeters in length and weighing up to one kilogram. 4The amphibian has experienced little genetic change for millions of years. But now its future is at risk, scientists say. 5"It's sad that a species that managed to coexist with dinosaurs, that managed to resist a mass extinction, is now threatened by human beings," said Melissa Cancino. Cancino is an animal doctor and founder of Proyecto Anfibia, a group that works on amphibian research and education in Chile. 6The Helmeted Water Toad's environment covers a large part of the country, but its population is suspected to have decreased by at least 30 percent since 1990. The creature is identified as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List. 7Climate change, habitat changes, environmental decline and pollution have all caused the Helmeted Water Toad's numbers to decline, Cancino said. Poor water and waste management have also threatened the frog's living environment. 8Matias Faundez, another member of Proyecto Anfibia, has seen the damage first hand. 9"This estuary runs through the whole city, and has plenty of illegal run-offs," he said as he walked through a stream outside of Valparaiso. "Even so," he added, "the frog manages to survive." 10I'm John Russell. 11Rodrigo Gutierrez reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 12______________________________________________ 13Words in This Story 14species - n. a class of animals having common attributes and a common name 15amphibian - n. any of a class of cold-blooded animals (such as frogs) that have gilled aquatic young and air-breathing adult 16vulnerable - adj. open to attack or damage 17extinction - n. the act of completely dying off 18estuary - n. a part of the sea at the lower end of a river