PANAMA CITY - Cocooned from the outside world, some 200 critically endangered golden frogs are living a sheltered existence in Panama, protected from a devastating fungus that threatens to wipe out a
third of the country's amphibian species -- a situation scientists describe as "critical."
According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund published this week, the planet has lost more than two-thirds of its vertebrates in less than 50 years. But it is not only frogs that are vulnerable to the fungus. Toads, salamanders and caecilians -- limbless amphibians similar to snakes -- are also at risk.
The fungus becomes embedded in the animal's skin and infects it, causing it to be unable to exchange salts and water with the environment. "When the fungus gets to a place where it wasn't, it affects populations very much and animals die en masse. It causes certain death in the individuals it infects. It's a devastating phenomenon," said Della Togna.
He warned that deforestation, environmental destruction and pollution of streams and rivers caused by humans exacerbate the problem.Despite the gloomy scenario, scientists point to some glimmers of hope, saying that in the past few years some species believed to have gone extinct have been re-discovered."This gives us hope, knowing that some frogs are returning and that they have ways to counter-attack" the fungus, said Estrada.
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