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<title>Houston zoo</title>
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<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:14:28 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?206</link>
			<title>Houston Zoo Ticket Prices</title>
			<description>                      Houston Zoo Pricing                     General Admission                      Group Rates                                Children 0-1                      FREE                     FREE                               Children 2-11                      $6.00                     $5.00                               Adults 12-64                      $10.00                     $8.00                               Senior 65 +                      $6.00                     $5.00                               Carousel Wild Life Carousel Tokens for Members                      $1.00                     $1.00                               Members Join Now!                     FREE                     FREE                                                                    More on Hours &amp; Pricing/Free Days                     Click on today at the zoo to find out what special keeper chats are taking place and other special activities. If you have other specific questions, you...

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			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:51:21 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?271</link>
			<title>***Home Page- Fun Facts***</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA&quot;&gt;You can find frogs everywhere in mascot marketing history, read more on our blog...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


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			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:17:21 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?125</link>
			<title>Amphibian Advocates</title>
			<description>July Amphibian Advocate of the Month  Paul Crump      Amphibian Conservation Programs Manager  Houston Zoo    The Houston Zoos own expert herpetologist, Paul Crump, is responsible for Zoo conservation projects that target threatened native Texas and exotic Panamanian amphibians, including captive breeding, reintroduction, and field and laboratory research. Paul earned his undergraduate degree in Genetics from the University of Wales in 2005 and has been employed by the Houston Zoo for the past five years. In that time he has distinguished himself as an active participant in Project Golden Frog, a member of the steering committee of the AZAs Amphibian TAG, and a Visiting Scholar in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at Rice University.   Previous Month Amphibian Advocates    Dr. Joseph R. Mendelson III    Curator of Herpetology, Zoo Atlanta    Adjunct Associate Professor of Biology,    Utah State University    Ph.D. University of Kansas, 1997     Dr. Mendelson has been...

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			<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:33:42 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?200</link>
			<title>Houston Zoo Hours - Open 364 Wild and wonderful days a year!</title>
			<description>                      Houston Zoo Hours                            The zoo does not offer rainchecks or refunds                                       Daylight Savings Time        March 9 - November 2                      9a.m. - 7p.m.                      Last ticket sold at 6p.m.                                Central Standard Time        November 3 - March 8                     9a.m. - 6p.m.                      Last ticket sold at 5p.m.                                Free Days                      Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, The Friday after Thanksgiving                                Zoo is closed only on Christmas day!                     Buy your tickets before you arrive. Purchase discount Zoo tickets at any of the 33 Fiesta Mart stores across the Houston area. Visit the courtesy booth of any Fiesta Mart in the Houston area to purchase an adult Zoo admission for $8 and a child Zoo admission for $4. Tickets will be valid for one year from the date...

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			<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:08:48 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?20</link>
			<title>Global &#0038; Local Conservation Projects</title>
			<description>The combined effect of habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, and chytrid cannot be addressed solely in the wild. Captive assurance populations have become the only hope for many species faced with imminent extinction and are an important component of an integrated conservation effort. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, with their demonstrated expertise in endangered species breeding programs, have been called upon to meet this conservation challenge. The Houston Zoo is involved in two primary amphibian projects:    Global- El Valle Amphibian Rescue Center  In recent years, conservation biologists have drawn our attention to a worldwide decline in wild populations of frogs, toads, and salamanders - a phenomenon that has come to be called the Global Amphibian Crisis. While habitat loss is still considered the most serious threat to the majority of species, especially in the humid tropical forest regions of the world, a fungal disease known as chytrid has been identified as...

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			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:27:01 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?127</link>
			<title>See Houston Zoo Amphibians</title>
			<description> Just like all of the amazing animals residing at the Houston Zoo, amphibians on exhibit here serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. By visiting and observing these animals in our Reptile House you have the opportunity to appreciate these fascinating and colorful animals up close and personal and thereby feel naturally more compelled to protect them in the wild.   The Reptile and Amphibian House at the Houston Zoo is home to about 100 individual amphibians of 25 species in 15 exhibits. The species range from the tiny Amazon Poison Frog (Dendrobates ventrimaculatus) that is barely larger than a thumbnail, to the Giant Waxy Money Treefrog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) that can reach six or seven inches long. All three amphibian orders are represented and a diverse group of families are also displayed. Considerable attention is placed on displaying various amphibian reproductive modes.    In this section we will regulary showcase amphibians calling the Houston Zoo home.    Solomon...

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			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:34:48 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?422</link>
			<title>Donate Now to Support an Endangered Amphibian</title>
			<description>Houston Toad    The Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis) is a Texas Native In Need. It was the first amphibian granted protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Historically, the Houston toad ranged across the central Texas coast, but disappeared from Harris and surrounding counties in the 1960s following extended drought and Houstons urban expansion. In the last half-century the species has suffered devastating population reductions. The Houston Zoo has taken on a head-starting project as part of its ongoing commitment to the survival of native Texas wildlife.                                           The Houston Zoo has joined with a number of other zoos and aquariums, academic institutions, and international conservation organizations to establish the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center in central Panama. The following Amphibians are some of the species that we are trying to save. Show your support for Amphibian Conservation and donate to one of these beautiful animals...

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			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:04:30 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?55</link>
			<title>In The Field</title>
			<description> During the course of the year, we will have the pleasure of bringing you news about amphibian conservation efforts directly from the field. In some cases these will be reports filed by Houston Zoo staff who are working with native or exotic species, but we also expect to receive regular updates from our colleagues working in other states and countries &#8211; all of which we are happy to share with visitors to this website.        March 2008 Sabah, Borneo   Peter Riger, the Houston Zoos Assistant Director of Conservation, traveled to Sabah Borneo in March 2008 and accompanied Malaysian amphibian biologists in an area amphibian field survey. Monitoring methods utilized for amphibians included surveys, data collection, morphological data and records. On each of three nights, the team went out for 2 hours to three different sites: a small oil palm plantation, forest edge behind the B&amp;B where they were lodging. Over these 6 hours they located 51 individuals from 18 species in 9 genera. Each...

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			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:38:17 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?186</link>
			<title>Amphibian Watch Workshop</title>
			<description>&lt;h3&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;210&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/15390-13NS.jpg&quot; width=&quot;315&quot; align=&quot;right&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;Texas Amphibian Watch &amp;amp; Monitoring Workshop&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: red&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;WORKSHOP IS FULL&lt;br&gt;
REGISTRATION CLOSED&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Friday, June 27th 2008, &lt;br&gt;
BEC Auditorium, Houston Zoo&lt;br&gt;
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.&lt;br&gt;
Cost: $5.00&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;div&gt;What better year to learn more about native frogs and toads than the &#8220;&lt;strong&gt;Year of the Frog&lt;/strong&gt;&#8221;? This workshop is designed to help familiarize you with local amphibians. &lt;strong&gt;Texas Amphibian Watch&lt;/strong&gt; also offers you the opportunity to help conserve amphibians in Texas. Volunteers of this program play an important role in being the eyes and ears in Texas. &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/15390-01NS.jpg&quot; align=&quot;right&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;You can get involved by:&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Being an Amphibian Spotter&lt;/strong&gt;- keeping your eyes peeled for amphibians wherever you go.&lt;br&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Adopting a Frog Pond&lt;/strong&gt;- picking a site you will visit over time to watch (and listen) for changes in the populations.&lt;br&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Malformation Monitoring&lt;/strong&gt;- examining frogs and toads at your site to look for any abnormalities&lt;br&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conducting a &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Texas&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Frog and Toad Survey&lt;/strong&gt;- you will establish listening stops on a roadside route that is part of a national monitoring system &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The cost for this workshop is only $5 and includes a CD of the calls of Texas frogs and toads. The workshop will run from 6:00 pm &#8211; 9:00 pm, ending with a walk on zoo grounds and around the HermanPark pond to listen for and spot frogs and toads.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;For information contact rrommel@houstonzoo.org&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


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			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:04:17 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?25</link>
			<title>About Amphibians</title>
			<description> Amphibians are vertebrates &#8211; backboned animals - along with fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. They were, in fact, the first vertebrate creatures to venture from the seas to the land way back in the Devonian Period some 350 million years ago. Many different kinds of amphibians have evolved during that time, but today they are represented by three distinct orders: Anura (the tail-less frogs and toads), Caudata (the tailed salamanders, newts, mudpuppies, hellbenders, axolotls, amphiumas, and sirens), and Gymnophiona (the legless caecilians).     Amphibians live on all continents except Antarctica. They are all smooth-skinned creatures that lack scales, feathers or hair. Amphibians are also ectotherms, which means that their internal body temperature typically remains very close to that of their surroundings.    Many species have a dual lifestyle, starting out as gill-breathing, fish-like larvae that hatch from eggs deposited in fresh water and dramatically transforming into...

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			<pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2008 14:47:52 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?194</link>
			<title>Leap Day Trivia</title>
			<description>     When is a Frog not a Frog? The answer is, When it&#8217;s a toad. Biologists use the word frog to refer to all members of the Order Anura &#8211; amphibians that lack tails. These include frogs, which tend to have smooth skin, bulging eyes and long strong legs, and toads, which tend to be stocky, have warty skin, and possess shorter hind legs. All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads. Got it?            Look, Ma, No Hands &#8230; Or Legs! Most folks are familiar with the more common amphibians &#8211; frogs, toads, salamanders and newts &#8211; but few have ever heard of a caecilian, and probably would mistake one for a worm or a snake. Caecilians are entirely limbless and live either below ground or underwater, so they are rarely seen. Their skin is smooth, their eyes are barely developed, and the largest ones grow to four feet or more in length. Caecilians are known from the American, African and Asian tropics.         You Might Find This One Hard to Swallow! Very often, a frog or toad will attempt...

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			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:21:17 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?56</link>
			<title>Just For Kids</title>
			<description> Kids Coloring Sheets  Houston Zoo 2008 Year of the Frog Coloring Sheet  Tiger Salamander Coloring Sheet  Caecilian Coloring Sheet  Leopard Frog Coloring Sheet  Striped Newt Coloring Sheet  Bull frog Coloring Sheet      Fun Frog Kid Crafts  Frog Paper Bag Craft Instructions  Frog Paper Bag Craft Cut Out  From Polliwog to Frog Craft  Frog Pony Bead Pattern        Toads Need A Home Too - Make Toad Abodes!   A toad with a secure home is a happy toad indeed. A first simple step any family can take to help amphibians is to invite toads to move into their backyard by supplying them with cozy toad houses. A friendly toad will gobble up many harmful bugs that come into your garden. Toads are most active at night feasting on those pesky pests, but during the day need a dark, cool place to hide from predators and the hot sun. If a toad feels at home in your garden he could live there for up to ten years!             Easy Steps: Use environmentally-safe paint to decorate the outside of a...

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			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:54:23 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?282</link>
			<title>Video Gallery</title>
			<description>Kermit Lobbies Congress              Leap of Faith            Panamas forests are falling silent. A microscopic fungus is sweeping through the jungles of Central America, killing large numbers of amphibians with which it comes in contact.    But there is hope. In the small village of El Valle de Anton, nestled in the crater of an extinct volcano, an international team of zoos and other conservation organizations is locked in a desperate race against time, attempting to safeguard threatened frogs, toads and salamanders from extinction.   Shot on location, Leap of Faith puts you on the front line of a scenic battleground with a team of conservation biologists as they struggle to save the golden frog, a cultural icon, and other native species. The video tells the story of the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center (EVACC), a project initiated by the Houston Zoo, and the dedication of biologists Edgardo Griffith and Heidi Ross to protecting amphibian diversity in Panama.     

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			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:00:45 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?370</link>
			<title>***Home Page- Explore Frog Habitats Tile***</title>
			<description>&lt;a href=&quot;/zoo&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;/images/habitat.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Explore Frog Habitats&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;


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			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:43:11 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?369</link>
			<title>***Home Page- See Amphibians Tile***</title>
			<description>&lt;a href=&quot;/leapday/&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;/images/seefrogsatzoo.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Join us on Leap Day at the Houston Zoo&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; height=&quot;91&quot; width=&quot;441&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;


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			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:37:10 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?359</link>
			<title>Artists for Amphibians</title>
			<description> Proceeds from artwork sold on this page benefit Amphibian Conservation at the Houston Zoo. If you are interested in purchasing any of the following pieces of fine art please contact Rachel Rommel. Featured Artist: Gamini Ratnavira  Gamini Ratnavira was born and raised in tropical Sri Lanka. As a self-taught artist he uses his photographic memory and life experiences to produce vibrant, colorful images of the rain forest flora and fauna, which are complimented with intriguing stories and research information about each painting. His paintings reveal his love for art coupled with an unrestrained, lifelong reverence for nature and animals.  After earning unequaled praise in his native land, Gamini moved to the United States where he continues a successful art career in Southern California. He is a member of the Society of Animal Artists and has exhibited with Birds in Art and Arts for the Parks Top 100 tours. Gamini has exhibited in shows across the United States and his work is now...

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			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:41:49 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?57</link>
			<title>Teacher Resources</title>
			<description>    Here you will find information resources for use by Teacher/Youth Leaders. Keep checking back as we will add more information soon!    Photo courtesy of Bill Konstant   Fact Sheets These fact sheets provide background information for volunteers, docents, educators, and media communications.  Global Amphibian Crisis  Zoos and Aquariums Take Action for Amphibians     Amphibian Alert Curriculum  This curriculum aims to teach children what amphibians are and why amphibian population declines are important to scientists and communities throughout the world. The amphibian decline dilemma represents an outstanding opportunity for educators to introduce into the classroom a real-world problem that is being addresses by science. You need not be a science specialist to teach the Amphibian Alert! curriculum. The curriculum targets grades 2-5. However, many activities can be easily adapted for other grades and ability levels. Frogs are well loved by children, yet traditionally very little is...

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			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:33:33 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?19</link>
			<title>What is the Year of the Frog</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;102&quot; alt=&quot;Year of the Frog 2008&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/AZA_YOTF_Logo.jpg&quot; width=&quot;335&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;201&quot; alt=&quot;Dendrobates vicentei&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/Dendrobates-vicentei.jpg&quot; width=&quot;300&quot; align=&quot;right&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; longDesc=&quot;Dendrobates vicentei&quot; /&gt;Declared by &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.amphibianark.org/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amphibian Ark&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/a&gt;and globally campaigned by the &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.aza.org&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Association of Zoos and Aquariums&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, 2008 will be highlighted&amp;nbsp;as the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.yearofthefrog.org&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Year of the Frog&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;to mark a major conservation effort to address the amphibian extinction crisis. The Year of the Frog is also meant to engage the public in amphibian conservation and to raise funds for AZA amphibian conservation efforts into the future. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are committed to ensuring the survival of all amphibian species and are already an active force in amphibian conservation. &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;Since 2000, we have spent more than $1.1 million on amphibian conservation and research projects in more than 20 countries around the world. Now, with &lt;strong&gt;Year of the Frog&lt;/strong&gt;, we need to take our efforts to the next level, not only by increasing our conservation efforts, but also by engaging the public to learn about and support our critical work to prevent amphibian extinction. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;em&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;118&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/5/amphibarklogo.jpg&quot; width=&quot;350&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Photo courtesy of&amp;nbsp;Bill Konstant&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


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			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:28:56 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?21</link>
			<title>Resources, Links &#0038; Partners</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;211&quot; alt=&quot;Eleutherodactylus museosus&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/Eleutherodactylus-museosus.jpg&quot; width=&quot;315&quot; align=&quot;right&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; longDesc=&quot;Eleutherodactylus museosus&quot; /&gt;All of the organizations found below are great resources&amp;nbsp;to fund out what is being done worldwide to&amp;nbsp;combat the &lt;strong&gt;Global Amphibian Crisis&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.yearofthefrog.org&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
AZA Year of the Frog&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.amphibians.org &quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Amphibian Specialist Group&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.cbsg.org/cbsg/ &quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Conservation Breeding Specialist Group&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.conservation.org &quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Conservation International&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.iucn.org&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;The World Conservation Union&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.amphibianark.org/&quot;&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;144&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/5/amphibarklogo.jpg&quot; width=&quot;426&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot; size=&quot;2&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Local Links:&lt;/strong&gt; The following link is to Texas Parks and Wildlife Amphibians page to assist you in identifying local frogs and toads of Texas and thier calls.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot; size=&quot;2&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/texas_nature_trackers/amphibian_watch/amphibian_species/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/texas_nature_trackers/amphibian_watch/amphibian_species/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 8pt&quot;&gt;Photo courtesy of Bill Konstant&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?21</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:17:56 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?18</link>
			<title>The Amphibian Extinction Crisis</title>
			<description> Frogs are going extinct. So are toads, salamanders, newts, and the intriguingly unusual caecilians. In fact, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) estimates that at least one-third of known amphibian species are threatened with extinction. While the major culprit has historically been habitat loss and degradation, many of the declines and extinctions previously referred to as enigmatic are now being attributed to the rapidly dispersing infectious disease chytridiomycosis (chytrid). This fungus is causing population and species extinctions at an alarming rate. Can you imagine if we were about to lose one-third of the worlds mammals?    Amphibian chytrid fungus is not the only cause of amphibian decline, but is a likely explanation for unexplained declines in high-altitude, protected regions and may hasten the collapse of populations weakened by other threats such as habitat destruction, climate change, and water and air pollution.     Photo courtesy of Bill Konstant Chytridiomycosis...

</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?18</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:38:50 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?273</link>
			<title>***Home Page - Frog Habitats***</title>
			<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;Amphibians are very adaptable creatures and can be found in a wide variety of habitats throughout the world. Explore where they live using our interactive habitat scroller.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a  href=&quot;/habitat&quot;&gt;View Our Interactive habitat scroller&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;


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			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?273</guid>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:46:11 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?118</link>
			<title>Volunteer to study native frogs, toads, salamanders and newts</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;211&quot; alt=&quot;Bufo granulosus&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/Bufo-granulosus.jpg&quot; width=&quot;315&quot; align=&quot;right&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; longDesc=&quot;Bufo granulosus&quot; /&gt;One of the most important things you can do to help ensure a future for amphibians is to &lt;strong&gt;volunteer your time&lt;/strong&gt; to survey and monitor wild populations in your region. A number of government agencies and conservation organizations provide opportunities for private citizens to participate directly in wildlife conservation efforts.&lt;br&gt;
&amp;nbsp; &lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;To become involved, we encourage you to contact &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.nwf.org/frogwatchUSA/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-size: 10pt&quot;&gt;Frogwatch USA&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, a collaboration between the National WildlifeFederation and the US Geological Survey.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/font&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;You may also wish to investigate opportunities offered by &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a style=&quot;font-size: 10pt&quot; href=&quot;http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/texas_nature_trackers/amphibian_watch/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Texas Nature Trackers' Amphibian Watch Program.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/font&gt; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.houstonzoofrogs.org/watch/&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Sign up for our Amphibian Monitoring Workshop!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Photo courtesy of Bill Konstant.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;


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			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?118</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:11:47 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?34</link>
			<title>Frog Habitat Interactive</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;Amphibians are very adaptable creatures and can be found in a wide variety of habitats throughout the world, except for the extreme polar regions, seas and oceans.&amp;nbsp;They are at home at the bottoms of deep freshwater lakes, in the perpetual darkness of subterranean caves, under the baking sands of arid desert regions, in the canopy layers of the tallest rain forests, and on the snowy peaks of the world&#8217;s great mountain chains.&amp;nbsp;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;Lacking protective layers of scales, feathers or fur, these &#8220;fragile&#8221; creatures have evolved an intriguing range of physical and behavioral adaptations to diverse &#8211; and sometimes very harsh - environments.&amp;nbsp;The vast majority of the world&#8217;s frogs, toads, salamanders and newts are tied to freshwater systems, at least for the first stages of their lives, but many species have found ways to survive even when water is in short supply or nearly absent.&amp;nbsp;In addition, they have developed a range of physical defenses that keep them safe even when surrounded by hordes of persistent predators and competitors &#8211; including humans.&amp;nbsp;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?34</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:31:24 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?22</link>
			<title>Stay Toad-ally Connected</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;210&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/Atelopus-limosus.jpg&quot; width=&quot;315&quot; align=&quot;right&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;One of the easiest ways to get involved with saving amphibians is to be more aware of their conservation status and the efforts to save them. &lt;br&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;
Tell us what you want -- &lt;a style=&quot;font-size: 10pt&quot; href=&quot;/en/rss/index/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;sign up &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;to receive our RSS Feeds for Press Releases, Action Alerts and Blog posts.&lt;/font&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 8pt&quot;&gt;Photo courtesy of Bill Konstant&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;


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			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?22</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:27:41 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?212</link>
			<title>Maps &#0038; Directions to the Houston Zoo</title>
			<description>Where is the Zoo?  The Houston Zoo is located in Hermann Park adjacent to the Texas Medical Center and the Museum District. Our address is:      Houston Zoo  6175 Golf Course Drive  Houston, Texas 77030  713-533-6500           Ride MetroRail!  The arrival of METRORail brings a new era of transportation to Houston. Its a fast, convenient and safe way to travel between Downtown, Midtown, the Museum District, the Texas Medical Center, Reliant Park and the South Fannin Park &amp; Ride lot. With frequent service and the capacity to carry up to 400 passengers per trip, METRORail will help cut through congestion in these heavily traveled areas.    Click here for a METRORail Map and here for a METRORail Schedule through Hermann Park.     Save $1 on an adult admission when you ride METRO to the Houston Zoo (One offer per person). Present any current METRO bus or METRORail ticket at the admission booth to receive your discount.    Carpooling and riding the METRO bus or METRORail system are good...

</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?212</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:22:12 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?224</link>
			<title>**Home Page- Teachers &#0038; Students**</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;100&quot; alt=&quot;teachers and students&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/15390-32NS.jpg&quot; width=&quot;67&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; longDesc=&quot;teachers and students&quot; /&gt;Want to learn more about amphibians? Look no further than our amphibian education section &lt;strong&gt;&quot;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/education/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Leaping and Learning&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;!&quot;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt; You'll&amp;nbsp;find&amp;nbsp;fun curriculum, frog crafts, activities, games and an&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt; inside look at the amphibian field work that the Houston Zoo staff is involved in!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;


</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?224</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:20:09 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?272</link>
			<title>***Home Page - Crisis Awareness***</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;A&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;t least one-third of known amphibian species, including f&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;rogs, toads, salamanders, newts&lt;/font&gt; and&amp;nbsp;caecilians&amp;nbsp;are threatened with extinction. &lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


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			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?272</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:21:23 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?114</link>
			<title>Conserve Water in Your Home</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;211&quot; alt=&quot;Eleutherodactylus pardalis&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/Eleutherodactylus-pardalis.jpg&quot; width=&quot;315&quot; align=&quot;right&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; longDesc=&quot;Eleutherodactylus pardalis&quot; /&gt;Amphibians depend on fresh water for their survival. Funny thing, so do we and most other creatures!&amp;nbsp; &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;When we reduce the amount of water that we use for washing dishes and clothes, watering the lawn or taking baths and showers, more fresh water is available for our wildlife neighbors. In the state of Texas, in fact, a major threat to the survival of at least two threatened amphibians &#8211; the &lt;strong&gt;San Marcos and Jollyville salamanders&lt;/strong&gt; &#8211; is excessive water use by neighboring human populations. This lowers the water table and reduces the amount of suitable aquatic habitat for them.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;You can do your part to reduce these threats.&lt;/strong&gt; To conserve water, consider such things as: &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;installing aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets,
    &lt;li&gt;swapping existing showerheads for low-flow varieties,&amp;nbsp;
    &lt;li&gt;taking showers instead of baths,
    &lt;li&gt;installing water dams or investing in low-volume flush toilets, and
    &lt;li&gt;not letting water run for a cold drink &#8211; keep a container of drinking water in the refrigerator. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;For more information&lt;/strong&gt; on conserving water in your home, you can visit the following websites:&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.savingwater.org/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;http://www.savingwater.org/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/assistance/conservation/pubs.asp&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/assistance/conservation/pubs.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://fcs.tamu.edu/housing/efficient_housing/water_management/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;http://fcs.tamu.edu/housing/efficient_housing/water_management/&lt;br&gt;
    water_conservation_checklist/index.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.texaswatermatters.org/conservation.htm&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;http://www.texaswatermatters.org/conservation.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;


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			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?114</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:43:45 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?109</link>
			<title>Landscape for Wildlife</title>
			<description> With a small amount of planning and effort, you can turn your backyard into a haven for many different forms of wildlife, including amphibians. Digging a frog pond, installing a few toad abodes, or creating suitable winter quarters for hibernating amphibians can be very satisfying projects.  Create a Backyard  Frog Pond  Before you grab a shovel and start to dig, it&#8217;s probably a good idea to investigate what species of frogs are found in your area so that you can make the best possible home for them. Take a hike along a neighborhood creek or pond and meet some of your amphibian neighbors. Make a visit to your local pet shop, hardware or building supply store and see what styles and sizes of pre-formed ponds are available. You may also want to check to see if anyone else in your neighborhood has installed a pond in their backyard recently. Most folks are happy to share stories and tips about their landscaping projects, and seeing a number of different designs might give you a few more...

</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?109</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:43:28 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?28</link>
			<title>You Can Help!</title>
			<description>Six Simple Things You Can Do to Save Frogs Zoos and aquariums around the world have declared 2008 the Year of the Frog, drawing attention to the fact that amphibian populations are declining in many different countries. That&#8217;s the bad news. The good news is that you can do something that will help save frogs, toads, newts and salamanders in your state or region - maybe even in your own backyard.  Here are six simple things we encourage everyone to do.     Sign up to be A Friend of the Frogs.    Join with others around the world who share your interest in amphibians and a concern for their future. Click here to become A Friend of the Frogs. Your name will be added to the growing list of people who want to be kept informed and who are willing to lend a hand to save amphibians from extinction.         Learn more about amphibians.     Knowledge is power. Check out our recommended list of books, articles and websites that contain essential information for the amphibian enthusiast.        ...

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			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?28</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:43:03 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?27</link>
			<title>Be a Friend of Frogs</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;211&quot; alt=&quot;Centrolene ilex&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/Centrolene-ilex.jpg&quot; width=&quot;315&quot; align=&quot;right&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; longDesc=&quot;Centrolene ilex&quot; /&gt;It would be irresponsible to inform you about the &lt;strong&gt;Global Amphibian Crisis&lt;/strong&gt; without also suggesting ways in which you, your family and friends can help ensure the survival of these gentle and amazing creatures.&amp;nbsp;In this section of the website we offer &lt;strong&gt;ways for you to keep better informed&lt;/strong&gt; about the status of amphibians around the world, &lt;strong&gt;to join with other concerned individuals&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;become directly involved in field surveys or habitat protection efforts in your region&lt;/strong&gt;, or perhaps to &lt;strong&gt;launch a project right in your own backyard&lt;/strong&gt; to create safe havens for native amphibians.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;
We will also introduce you to rescue efforts that have been undertaken by the Houston Zoo here in Texas and in other parts of the world.&amp;nbsp;These projects are always in need of additional support and we encourage you to read more about them.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 8pt&quot;&gt;Photo courtesy of Bill Konstant&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;


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			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?27</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:42:17 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?92</link>
			<title>Amphibian Bibliography</title>
			<description>    Knowledge is power. The more you know about and appreciate frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians, the better an advocate you will be for their survival. There are a number of amusing stories, interesting books, and informative websites that we recommend for amphibian enthusiasts &#8211; young and old alike.     Photos courtesy of Bill Konstant    Books and Stories For children: Friend Frog (2001) by Alma Flor Ada.   Frog and Toad are Friends (1970), Frog and Toad Together (1972), Frog and Toad All Year (1976), and Days with Frog and Toad (1979). All written by Arnold Lobel.  Frog in Winter (1994), Frog and the Stranger (1995), Frog is Frightened (1996), Frog is a Hero (1997), Frog is Frog (1998), Frog and the Birdsong (1999), Frog and the Wide World (2000), Frog and the Treasure (2002), Frog in Love (2003), Frog is Sad (2003), Frog Finds a Friend (2004), Frog and a Very Special Day (2007). All by Max Velthuijs.   The Frog Prince by The Brothers Grimm.  Toad by the Road (2007)...

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			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?92</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:26:10 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?24</link>
			<title>Leaping and Learning</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;img height=&quot;208&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/031125.jpg&quot; width=&quot;315&quot; align=&quot;right&quot; vspace=&quot;10&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;br&gt;
Want to learn more about amphibians? Look no further than the following section &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Leaping and Learning!&lt;/em&gt; &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/teachers/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Teachers,&amp;nbsp;parents and youth leaders&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;will have access to&amp;nbsp;resources and curriculum to&amp;nbsp;assist&amp;nbsp;them in educating their students about amphibians and the importance of amphibian conservation. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;/kids/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Children&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;will be able to access fun frog crafts, activities, games and more! &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;Lastly, we will give you an inside look at the amphibian field work that Houston Zoo staff is involved with in our section &quot;&lt;a href=&quot;/inthefield/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;In the Field&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&quot;. We will provide the&amp;nbsp;visitor with&amp;nbsp;field notes, descriptions&amp;nbsp;and share pictures of the interesting and amazing animals we encounter.&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Leap in!&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
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			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:18:36 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?17</link>
			<title>Amphibians in Crisis</title>
			<description>Each and every day, more and more people are becoming aware of what is being called the Global Amphibian Crisis. For the last three decades, scientists around the world have reported the declines and disappearances of dozens of different species. There are many reasons why amphibians are disappearing &#8211; the ongoing loss of habitat, climate change, growing levels of air and water pollution, exploitation for the food and pet trades, the introduction of invasive species, and the spread of disease, including a deadly fungus that has already sent some species over the brink of extinction.  According to the Global Amphibian Assessment, the total number of amphibian species known to science now stands at about six thousand, but one out of every three is in danger of extinction. As biologists identify a new species in one part of the world, one or more may vanish in another.  To help save the world&#8217;s frogs, toads, salamanders and newts, zoos and aquariums have helped to launch the Amphibian...

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			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:13:50 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?179</link>
			<title>Create a Backyard Frog Pond</title>
			<description>Once you decide what kind of pond you want to install - pre-form or free-form - its time to stake out the best spot for it in your backyard. Ideally, the location should receive both sun and shade during the day so that the frogs can choose where they would like to be. Once the location has been selected, mark the pond perimeter with a length of rope, string or garden hose, grab a shovel out of the tool shed, and start digging. If you chose a pre-formed plastic design, youll know just what shape to cut and how deep to dig the hole. If you chose instead to be a bit more creative, the dimensions are entirely up to you. However, following a few simple rules at this stage of the project will save you a few headaches later on.      The pond should be deepest in the middle (two feet deep or more), sloping and shallower toward the edges.    Its a good idea to cut a flat shelf close to the perimeter, maybe 10 to 12 inches deep, at least along one edge of the pond. This can serve as a place to...

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			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:40:42 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?31</link>
			<title></title>
			<description>&lt;img height=&quot;210&quot; alt=&quot;Atelopus limosus&quot; hspace=&quot;5&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/1/Atelopus-limosus.jpg&quot; width=&quot;315&quot; align=&quot;right&quot; vspace=&quot;5&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; longDesc=&quot;Atelopus limosus&quot; /&gt;One of the easiest ways to get involved with saving&amp;nbsp;amphibians is to be more aware of their conservation status and the efforts to save them.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;
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			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:35:28 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?29</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:33:51 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?35</link>
			<title>365 Day Calendar</title>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:59:24 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>http://Houstonzoofrogs.org/en/cms/?33</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:57:53 GMT</pubDate>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:57:28 GMT</pubDate>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:55:56 GMT</pubDate>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:50:21 GMT</pubDate>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:47:58 GMT</pubDate>
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