Discussion

Findings

It is currently estimated that 15 589 species both plants and animals are in danger of becoming extinct, according to the report by the world conservation union (IUCN) one third of the endangered species this includes one in three amphibians are endangered. This news may seem shocking but most of the public were not aware of this news as seen from the survey. In view of this, our team has decided to set out on this project and help to raise the awareness of the plight of amphibians. Throughout this project, we can see that from the public response, many people do not know the endangerment of amphibians. It can also be concluded that the situation now is very critical.

Why is this happening as you may ask? One of many reasons is that people nowadays or perhaps the world now is seeing too many frogs. Frogs are seen almost everywhere and people are still eating frogs. Therefore, they are most probably not aware of the plight frogs are facing.

Secondly, people do not understand them. From the survey, it is indeed shocking to see the lack of information and care for frogs people have. Most do not even know what frogs are! There is not enough awareness among the public. People just do not know how to save them. They do not understand them and just as humans did not cause many other species to be endangered, they were not aware; amphibians may be the worst-hit as they may be hit with pollutants or virus in both land and water. There are many documented effects of human activities on frogs and their habitats. The destruction of their habitats, having non-native species being introduced and the use of poisonous pesticides are some of the effects.

Moreover, there are many indirect threats frogs place the frog populations in jeopardy. An excellent example is climate change, which is an accumulation of long-term activities carried out by humans. Humans, just like amphibians, are facing new infectious diseases which are threats to precious lives. Amphibians are facing a threat from chytrid fungus, a little understood disease that is causing many frogs to perish throughout the world.

How can you do your part?

After talking so much, you may ask, how do we as individuals help? Easy, do your part! Every individual should help spread the message to every individual around. Just send a text message or talk to your friend “ Are you aware the plight amphibians are facing now? Save them now!

One can also keep or create a frog habitat to rear frogs to help save them. As long as every individual can do his or her part, imagine how many frogs we can save!

What we did throughout the course of the project

Our team participated in various activities organized by the zoo to raise public awareness of the plight these frogs face now. Each of us had weak and strong points. Different skills and specialties of each allowed us to work together smoothly and well. We collaborated well by sharing duties amongst ourselves and splitting up the jobs. All in all, the work done together was very productive.

In addition, we collaborated with the zoo. It was engaging and fun and it allowed us to learn many things about amphibians as well as to carry out community involvement projects with them. We were also present in many of the activities which they had for the public. It was enriching and informative. We took part in various activities organized by the zoo to raise public awareness and help in our knowledge on the frogs. In turn, we were allowed to carry out our surveys and interviews in the zoo.
We managed to rope in the school population as well to let them know more about the amphibians from our school to begin with. Moreover, we collaborated with the IT department of our school to help us with some IT problems. Our Assistant Coach, Mrs. Aileen Chor was also of great help to us by helping us to settle other technical problems. These experiences have indeed helped to shape and nurture our thoughts and minds.

Problems encountered

Occasionally, there were some disputes among the members, however, they are inevitable but all of us got together quickly. We managed to work well and finish tasks on time, complete objectives set during each project meeting. This project has certainly brought us together as friends and has aided a lot in our learning.

Collaborating with the zoo also brought us a lot of problems, as this was our first time doing this. All of us, being first timers, were clueless as to how to approach the zoo to collaborate with them. At this point in time if not for our teacher mentor, Mr. Kelvin Yap, who was instrumental in helping us communicate with the zoo at the beginning, we would even have been able to carry out this project.

After we establish a great partnership with the zoo, more problems started to surface. As when the zoo started to ask us to help them in their activities, we realized that none of these activities aided in our project and that the requests were very demanding. Therefore, we wanted to end the collaboration. However, it dawned on us that collaboration meant that we had to give and take. We also that we had to take as we gave meaning that when we agreed to do something we had look for parts in the request that would aid us in our project. We realized that we could not just go up to them and ask them to do something for us.

Lessons Learnt

Through all these problems we learnt a lot of life lessons such as people relations skills (when asking for collaboration) and thinking on your feet (when being ask to do something). However collaborating with the zoo was not only all problems there were many fun times during the collaborations as well.

Through working with the zoo, we learnt more about the endangerment of these poor amphibians and were glad we could finally do something to help them instead of just talking about it. We really enjoyed this project very much and were relieved we actually embarked on this.

Improvements

However, there were some improvements to be made as well.  Plan of time. We could have planned our schedule in a more appropriate way. Time and dates of the meeting times clashed with our co-curricular activity competitions and training sessions, and we had to rush reports to be presented to the teachers. By managing our time more properly, we could have put in more effort to make a better report. Better Division of Task is another point. Sometimes, as they were too many tasks, some of us ended up with 3 or 4 tasks to finish with a fast-approaching deadline while some did not do as much. Better spreading of messages is also another improvement to be made. By working with the zoo and other mentors, sometimes, messages given to the leader may not be spread efficiently, leading to a lack in response which may cause a disastrous effect. Messages could be spread to the team and everyone involved in a more efficient and faster way.

On the whole, we feel that this project and the collaboration with the zoo was very fulfilling not because of the high points during the project nor because of the numerous problems we faced, but because of the solutions and lessons that we learnt from these problems. So, hopefully in the near future we hope that we might be able to collaborate with zoo or another institution to carry out another fun and fulfilling project.

Conclusion

To conclude this project, we found out that most of the public was not aware of the plight these amphibians face nowadays; this can be seen from our survey findings. Public awareness is almost zero. We tried to save this dangerous and urgent situation but, with only the strength of a small group, this is not enough, therefore, we managed to get help from both our school and the zoo. People need to be more aware of what the amphibians are facing now. Most of them also do not know what are amphibians, even if they know, it is only always on the frogs. What about the salamanders? What about the newts? However, this is the aim of our project—To introduce the amphibians and help them. We did well as we agreed. We managed to increase publicity through the zoo activities and hopefully by this webpage.
The world is changing. Climate Change, Pollutions and Diseases, all these are various key factors of declining population of not only the wildlife but the worst-hit, the amphibians. They are exposed to both land-borne and water-borne diseases and pollutants. We should do our part now and help. Examples of saving the frogs have been emphasized in this website. Do You Part! Spread the message!
From a national level, recovery plans could be carried out. We can conduct detailed studies on various frog habitats, environmental needs and frog diseases. At the same time, frog populations can be closely monitored. Conservation activities such as controlling of the growth of weeds, as well as enforcing a limit to both grazing and recreational activities, will certainly do a small part in saving the frogs.
Our group worked well with both our mentors but also our coaches. They had been a great help in providing helps that other research sources have failed to provide. We had enjoyed our time working with the zoo with patient zookeepers who were there to help us. We were glad that we had a chance to work with the zoo to learn many new things and be able to spread the message of saving the amphibians to a wider scope of the public.
We enjoyed most of the activities and explained to the public of the plight of amphibians. The collaboration was really an enjoyable one.
The situation of the amphibians is critical. We should start saving them and we hope, in the near future, more groups and more people would be more aware of this plight and more conservation projects as such could be done.  Through this, we are not only trying to save the frogs but also the wildlife in the world. The spirit of Team Crazy Frog will always be around the wildlife saviors in the world. We must never let these animals go extinct. Save the Amphibians! Save the world!

 

Recommendations

Based on the findings that we have gleaned from our surveys and interviews, these are some recommendations that we have come up with:

 

Intensification of Targeted Outreach Programmes

                The respondents aged 20-30 seem to have exhibited a greater lack of awareness of the plight of amphibians. As such, more programmes targeted finely at secondary schools and junior colleges should be implemented. These programmes could be spearheaded by students in tertiary institutions as part of their community-based problem-solving approaches.

                In our case, as secondary school students, we have undertaken to embark on a project to produce a Frog Kit in collaboration with the Singapore Zoological Gardens. This kit will be low cost and be produced in English. As it is compact and user-friendly, most teachers will find facilitation easy. The learning experience will also be enhanced as pupils will enjoy it and in turn learn about doing their bit for a worthwhile environmental conservation cause.

This makes the frog kit more meaningful as it reaches out to youth and informs them about the situation. At the same time, the message is being passed on to the younger generation, hopefully reducing the threats as the years go by.

 

Promotional Materials to be Distributed to Households

                          
Based on the results from the interviews and surveys, we were able to come up with a profile of the people whom we felt would be receptive to our promotional campaign in aid of amphibians. It is evident that people living in the residential heartlands are unaware as they are overly-urbanized these days. Hence, households become geographically removed from the habitats of these creatures and do not come into any contact with them whatsoever.

Therefore, more avenues of contact should be provided. Family-slanted programmes can be organized by the neighbourhood community centres, whereby families can bond and at the same time, learn more about frogs. Interaction with the frogs through touching or playing games will certainly get them closer and more connected with the current situation.

From the zoo’s point of view, behind-the-scenes nature trails and tours can be conducted to teach visitors and tourists more about amphibians in a different and more interesting way. By showing visitors how amphibians are kept and bred in private, visitors will have a stronger interest in amphibians and hopefully, show concern for them.

Making of Videos and use of other Popular Media

                          
With the advancement of technology, one good way to pass on the message to the new generation is through online popular media. Youtube is a website whereby people can post videos for viewing by the public. Millions of people visit this website everyday and it can be used as a resource to combat global decimation of our amphibious friends. We too can utilize it for publicity purposes.

As part of our frog kit, we are also including a short and funny animation targeted at youngsters. This animation although simple, is certainly appealing to youngsters. With this short video, we do hope to be able to spread the message to an even wider audience.

Our frog game, also a part of the frog kit, is meant to appeal to the youngsters aged 8 and above. This game has a short introduction whereby these kids can read about the plight of amphibians and further understand it by playing the game.

As for teens, there is no better medium than the electronic media – namely, the Internet. Facebook and other such social networking sites can also be utilized for the positive impact and reach that viral marketing is able to generate.

Talks Featuring Prominent Experts

                          
Talks featuring prominent experts could be held in schools, polytechnics, junior colleges etc. Prominent experts can be invited to the school to give talks on the plight of amphibians and give students an idea on the current situation. It is always good to educate people from a younger age as this is the time whereby they can put in an effort to help save the amphibians

Neighbourhood community centres can also organize such events for households to go down and listen. Using bright and attractive posters for publicity, the public will be attracted to go down and listen to the talk. This way, everyone from youngsters to adults will benefit, and hopefully keep the spreading of the conservation message going. Adults too can benefit from viewing such exhibitions or listening to such talks.

Sale of Merchandise

                Shirts that appeal to the public can be designed and printed for sale. This will not only help raise funds for the amphibians, it can also spread the conservation message when the shirt is worn. With different conservation messages on different shirts, we will be able to keep emphasizing the importance of the situation.

Badges and bookmarks can also be designed and sold at a cheap price to interested buyers in an attempt to save our amphibious friends.