World Frog Day Date in the current year: March 20, 2024

Frogs are a diverse group of amphibians that make up the order Anura; they account for nearly 90% of all living amphibian species. There are over 7,500 documented frog species that are widely distributed in various climate zones ranging from the tropics to the subarctic region, but the greatest variety of frog species can be found in tropical rainforest.

Aquatic and semi-aquatic species of the order Anura that have smooth and moist skins are usually referred to as frogs, whereas terrestrial species with warty and dry skins are commonly known as toads. However, this distinction is not “official” and has many exceptions; from a taxonomic point of view, all members of the order Anura are frogs, even those that are called toads.

Frogs appear widely in folklore, fairy tales and art around the globe. Some frog species are kept as exotic pets because they are inexpensive and relatively low-maintenance, while others are consumed as food (frog legs are a well-known French delicacy). Frogs are also used in scientific research (as test subjects) and as a source of certain chemicals used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Sadly, frog populations around the globe have declined dramatically since the 1950s, although these declines weren’t widely recognized until the 1980s. More than one third of all frog species are considered to under the threat of extinction. The main threats that frogs face include diseases (such as chytridiomycosis, a fungal infection that is believed to have affected almost one third of the world’s amphibian species), habitat destruction and fragmentation, pollution and pesticide use, climate change, an increase in UVB radiation, parasites (trematodes), and invasive species. World Frog Day was launched to raise awareness of the threatened status of frogs among the general public.

The origins of World Frog Day are unclear, but it has been celebrated annually since at least 2014. It was probably established by a frog enthusiast or a conservation organization that wanted to celebrate these amphibians and highlight their conservation status. Today, the holiday is supported and promoted by conservation organizations and conservationists, zoos, aquariums, animal clinics, universities, and other stakeholders around the globe.

There are many ways to celebrate World Frog Day and contribute to frog conservation. You can learn more about these amazing creatures and their ecological role, share the facts you’ve learned with others, check out the frog exhibit at your local zoo or aquarium, raise awareness of the drastic decline in frog populations, donate to a conservation organization that saves frogs and their habitat, commit to living a more sustainable lifestyle in order to reduce pollution, and spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtags #WorldFrogDay and #FrogDay.