KEY POINTS:
The humble New Zealand frog was as special as the kiwi or kakapo and, like those treasured birds, faced extinction, says Native Frog Recovery Group co-leader Phil Bishop.
This week is Frog Week and Napier's National Aquarium of New Zealand has whistling tree frogs on display to encourage people to embrace our cold-blooded friends.
To raise awareness about the endangered amphibians the group declared a Frog Week, and launched a website.
It was surprising how little New Zealanders knew of their native frogs, Mr Bishop said.
Frog booklets produced by various interested groups were available at the aquarium, with fun activities for kids.
The recovery group worked with the Department of Conservation to develop strategies for protecting New Zealand's four native and three introduced species, including relocating them to predator-free islands.
The decline in frogs was not unique to New Zealand, Dr Bishop said.
Numbers were dwindling world-wide because of a wide range of factors, including habitat destruction, climate change, increases in UV radiation, predators and diseases, and the pet trade.
Dr Bishop encouraged anyone interested in frogs to visit the display at the aquarium and to check out the www.nzfrogs.org website for further information.
