Nature (1982–…): Season 27, Episode 10 - Frogs: The Thin Green Line - full transcript

Narrator: THEY'RE
ANCIENT CREATURES

IN A CHANGING WORLD.

THESE EVOLUTIONARY
GEMS HAVE BEEN AROUND

SINCE BEFORE THE DINOSAURS.

BUT SUDDENLY,
THEY'RE SLIPPING AWAY.

AS SCIENTISTS RACE
TO FIND ANSWERS,

AMPHIBIANS ARE VANISHING.

Woman: WE'RE GOING TO LOSE

PERHAPS HALF OF THE
AMPHIBIAN SPECIES...

AND THEY GO AWAY FOR GOOD,

THEY DON'T COME BACK.



Narrator: THE IMPLICATIONS
ARE ENORMOUS.

Man: SOME OF THESE
HABITATS WILL FALL APART

WITHOUT THEIR AMPHIBIANS.

Man: IT'S AN INDICATION TO US
THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.

AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GOING
TO TURN AROUND AND SAY,

"WELL, HANG ON, WE
NEEDED THOSE FROGS"?

Narrator: ACROSS THE GLOBE,

AMPHIBIANS ARE WALKING

A THIN LINE.

IF WE ACT QUICKLY, WE MIGHT
PULL THEM BACK FROM THE EDGE.

Woman: THIS IS THE
ONLY CHANCE WE HAVE.

Narrator: FROGS HAVE MANAGED

TO NAVIGATE LIFE ON EARTH

FOR MORE THAN 250 MILLION YEARS.



THEY WERE THE FIRST
OF OUR ANCESTORS

TO VENTURE FROM THE
WATER TO THE WORLD BEYOND.

BUT THEIR FISH-LIKE
BEGINNINGS HAVEN'T HINDERED

THEIR PROGRESS ON EARTH.

THEY'VE EVOLVED INTO

AN EXPLOSION OF SPECIES,

EACH ONE UNIQUE.

THESE DIMINUTIVE TIME TRAVELERS

SURVIVED THE DINOSAURS,
ASTEROIDS, AND ICE AGES,

ADAPTING IN WAYS
THAT BOGGLE THE MIND.

SOME ARE MASTERS OF CAMOUFLAGE,

WHILE OTHERS AVOID PREDATORS
BY CARRYING POISONS IN THEIR SKIN.

THEIR SURVIVAL TACTICS
HAVE SPLINTERED THEM

INTO THOUSANDS OF SPECIES,

SCATTERED ON ALMOST EVERY CORNER

OF THE EARTH.

WHETHER SALAMANDER...

FROG...

OR TOAD...

AMPHIBIANS ARE SOME OF THE
MOST DIVERSE AND FAR-FLUNG ANIMALS

ON THE PLANET...

BUT THEY'RE DISAPPEARING,

AND EXPERTS ARE WORRIED.

FROGS ARE CONSIDERED
BELLWETHERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

THEIR DOUBLE LIFE
MAKES THEM UNIQUE.

IT'S THROUGH THEIR SKIN
THAT THEY BREATHE AND DRINK.

BECAUSE THEIR SKIN
IS SO PERMEABLE,

THEY'RE ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE
TO CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

TODAY, MORE THAN A THIRD
OF AMPHIBIANS ARE IN DECLINE.

FROM AUSTRALIA TO SOUTH AMERICA,

FROGS ARE DISAPPEARING.

WHY ARE SPECIES THAT
HAVE SURVIVED FOR EONS

SUDDENLY COLLAPSING?

SCIENTISTS ARE
SEARCHING FOR CLUES,

BEFORE THE NEXT
SPECIES SLIPS AWAY.

FROGS CAN BE SECRETIVE.

TO FIND ANSWERS,

ONE MUST PROBE THE SHADOWS.

THIS GLASS FROG'S

TRANSLUCENT SKIN
REVEALS HER EGGS.

COUPLING CAN BE

A DANGEROUS PROPOSITION.

FROGS—AND THEIR OFFSPRING...

ARE KEY PLAYERS
IN THE FOOD CHAIN.

THE PARENTS WILL GO
THEIR SEPARATE WAYS,

LEAVING THEIR EGGS TO FATE.

ON A NEARBY LEAF,
ANOTHER FROG LOOKS SIMILAR,

BUT HIS SPECIES HAS
A DIFFERENT TACTIC.

THIS FATHER WILL STAND
WATCH OVER HIS YOUNG

UNTIL THEY HATCH.

HE'LL GUARD THEM NIGHT AND DAY.

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE
HISTORY OF AMPHIBIANS

HAS PLAYED OUT LIKE THIS
FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS,

BUT CONDITIONS ARE
RAPIDLY CHANGING...

WHETHER DEEP IN THE RAIN FOREST,

OR ON A SANDY OUTCROP
AT THE OCEAN'S EDGE.

ON THE TIP OF CAPE COD,

LIFE IS STIRRING WITH
THE FIRST SPRING RAIN.

SPADEFOOT TOADS SPROUT LIKE
STRANGE FLOWERS FROM THE SAND.

THEY'LL MAKE THEIR
WAY TO VERNAL POOLS,

TO LAY THEIR EGGS.

IF TOADS CAN'T GET TO

THEIR BREEDING PONDS,

THE POPULATION WILL
GRADUALLY VANISH.

IN THE NORTHEAST,

SPADEFOOT TOADS ARE
BEING EDGED OUT BY HUMANS.

HERE AT THE CAPE COD
NATIONAL SEASHORE,

THE LAND IS PROTECTED, BUT
THE ROADS CAN STILL TAKE A TOLL.

AMPHIBIANS ALL OVER THE WORLD
FACE A DEADLY COLLISION COURSE

WHEN THEIR HABITAT IS CARVED UP.

IF A FEMALE IS FULL OF
EGGS, THE NEXT GENERATION

IS LOST, AS WELL.

CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE
HAS BEGUN TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS

ON WARM, RAINY NIGHTS.

EVERY LITTLE EFFORT

MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

MILLIONS OF AMPHIBIANS
ARE LOST EACH YEAR

WHEN THEY COLLIDE WITH HUMANS.

HOW MANY MILLIONS OF
ROADS CRISSCROSS THE GLOBE?

HUMAN POPULATION HAS
DOUBLED IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.

AMPHIBIANS ARE GETTING HIT
FROM ALMOST EVERY FRONT.

THESE SUPER-SURVIVORS
CAN'T EVOLVE QUICKLY ENOUGH

TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGES.

WE'VE STIRRED UP THE
PERFECT STORM FOR FROGS.

ADD A MYSTERIOUS
DISEASE TO THE MIX,

AND THE SITUATION
BECOMES CRITICAL.

WE'RE NOW LOSING FROGS

EVEN IN THE MOST PRISTINE
CORNERS OF THE EARTH.

IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK,

THE MOUNTAIN YELLOW-LEGGED FROG

HAS MAINTAINED A FOOTHOLD
FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.

THEY'VE SURVIVED ICE
AGES AND GLACIERS.

EVEN THEIR TADPOLES
ARE TOUGH ENOUGH

TO WEATHER MULTIPLE
WINTERS UNTIL METAMORPHOSIS.

BUT TODAY, THEY'RE IN TROUBLE...

AND EXPERTS HAVE BEEN
STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT WHY.

DR. ROLAND KNAPP

WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO
IDENTIFY ONE OF THE CAUSES.

Knapp: HISTORICALLY, THERE WERE

LOTS OF FROGS HERE.

RECORDS SUGGEST THAT
WALKING ALONG THE LAKESHORE

YOU WOULD JUST SEE FROG AFTER
FROG PLOPPING INTO THE WATER.

AND NOW YOU CAN WALK
THE ENTIRE LAKESHORE

AND NOT SEE A SINGLE FROG.

IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 1900s,

TO CREATE
RECREATIONAL FISHERIES,

PEOPLE BEGAN MOVING
NON-NATIVE TROUT

INTO MANY OF THESE
NATURALLY FISHLESS LAKES.

TROUT PREY ON THE FROGS,
AND IN MOST OF THESE PLACES,

THE FROGS ARE NOW GONE.

Argo: KNAPP HAS BEEN PART
OF AN INTENSIVE EFFORT

TO REMOVE FISH FROM
YOSEMITE'S LAKES.

IT LOOKED LIKE THE FROGS
WERE MAKING A COMEBACK...

UNTIL THEY FELL PREY TO
SOMETHING EVEN MORE INSIDIOUS.

Knapp: IT WASN'T LONG AFTER

WE BEGAN THE FISH
ERADICATIONS THAT WE REALIZED

THAT THERE WAS
SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON

BESIDES JUST FISH.

AND THAT SOMETHING IS THE
AMPHIBIAN CHYTRID FUNGUS.

Argo: TWELVE YEARS AGO,

KNAPP STARTED FINDING
DEAD FROGS AT HIS STUDY SITES.

AT FIRST THE DEATHS
WERE A MYSTERY...

UNTIL A STRANGE
FUNGUS WAS IDENTIFIED.

IT SEEMS TO ATTACK THE SKIN OF
A FROG, DEPRIVING IT OF OXYGEN.

Knapp: IT'S REALLY HARD TO SEE

AN ANIMAL THAT YOU'VE TAGGED,
YOU'VE RECAPTURED SEVERAL TIMES,

YOU'VE WATCHED THEM
FOR HOURS SOMETIMES...

AND THEN YOU FIND THAT
SAME ANIMAL DEAD IN A POOL.

THIS DISEASE IS TAKING
THE SPECIES OUT.

Argo: IN A MATTER OF DECADES,
CHYTRIDIOMYCOSIS,OR "CHYTRID,"

HAS BECOME A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC.

Woman: IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE'RE
SEEING THE YELLOW FEVER OF FROGS

OR THE FLU OF 1918.

WE HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT
HOW THIS DISEASE EVEN WORKS,

HOW IT SPREADS SO QUICKLY.

Argo: AT U.C. BERKELEY, MARY
STICE IS TRYING TO UNCOVER

MORE CLUES ABOUT CHYTRID.

Stice: THESE LITTLE CIRCLES

ARE ZOOSPORES, AND
THAT'S THE INFECTIOUS STAGE

OF THE FUNGUS.

IT SWIMS THROUGH THE WATER,

LOOKING FOR ITS NEXT VICTIM...

A TADPOLE OR AN ADULT FROG.

THE MOST PUZZLING
THING ABOUT THIS DISEASE

IS THAT WE HAVE NO
IDEA WHERE IT'S FROM.

IT'S FOUND IN
PRESERVED SPECIMENS

FROM THE 1930s, IN AFRICA,

FROM THE '70s
HERE IN CALIFORNIA,

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A NEW
DISEASE MOVING INTO POPULATIONS.

UP IN YOSEMITE, WHERE
I DO MY FIELDWORK,

IT'S LOOKING PRETTY BLEAK.

I AM REALLY WORRIED.

Argo: WE KNOW THAT THE
FUNGUS NEEDS WATER TO SURVIVE.

IT ALSO NEEDS A HOST.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT MOVES,

OR HOW TO CONTAIN
IT ONCE IT ARRIVES.

Knapp: UNLIKE THE FISH,
WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD

SOME CONTROL OVER
THOSE FISH POPULATIONS,

AND WE COULD REMOVE
THEM FROM SELECTED LAKES,

WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY WITH
THE AMPHIBIAN CHYTRID FUNGUS.

ALL WE CAN DO RIGHT
NOW, FOR THE MOST PART,

IS WATCH IT DO ITS THING.

THIS IS A FROG THAT HAS
INCREDIBLE STAYING POWER.

THEY'RE INCREDIBLY WELL ADAPTED
TO THIS HARSH ENVIRONMENT.

AND NOW, ON OUR WATCH,
THEY'RE DISAPPEARING.

Argo: THE TEAM IS RUSHING

TO COLLECT AS MUCH
DATA AS THEY CAN,

BUT CHYTRID IS A PUZZLING ENEMY.

WHILE SOME SPECIES
APPEAR TO BE RESISTANT,

OTHERS ARE BEING DEVASTATED.

THE MOUNTAIN YELLOW-LEGGED
FROG IS LOSING GROUND FAST.

ALL RIGHT, 57.

THE FUNGUS THAT CAUSES CHYTRID,

KNOWN AS "Bd,"

CAN EXTINGUISH A POPULATION
IN A MATTER OF MONTHS.

IT SEEMS TO THRIVE
AT HIGH ALTITUDES,

WHERE IT'S COOL AND MOIST,

BUT NO ONE KNOWS HOW IT
TRAVELS, OR HOW TO STOP IT.

THE DISEASE IS SWEEPING
THROUGH THE SIERRAS,

IT'S WELL ESTABLISHED IN MEXICO,

AND IT'S BEEN MOVING THROUGH
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA,

DEVASTATING AMPHIBIANS.

Woman: CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

HARBORED 50% OF THE
WORLD'S AMPHIBIAN SPECIES.

THIS WAS THE PLACE WITH
THE GREATEST AMOUNT,

AND NOW WE'VE POTENTIALLY
LOST A HUGE PORTION OF THAT.

Argo: IN COSTA
RICA, DR. KAREN LIPS

WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO WITNESS
A MYSTERIOUS DIE-OFF OF FROGS.

Lips: ONE DAY I WAS
WALKING DOWN THE STREAM,

AND I FOUND A DEAD FROG,

AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS
A LITTLE CONCERNED,

BUT... OVER THE NEXT COUPLE
OF WEEKS I FOUND A COUPLE MORE.

I WENT BACK THE NEXT
YEAR, AND THEY WERE GONE.

THE FROGS HAD DISAPPEARED.

ESSENTIALLY THE
SAME STORY PLAYED OUT

A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER
ACROSS THE BORDER IN PANAMA.

Argo: WHILE LIPS WAS WITNESSING
DIE-OFFS IN CENTRAL AMERICA,

A SIMILAR STORY
PLAYED OUT IN AUSTRALIA.

BY THE TIME CHYTRID
WAS IDENTIFIED,

AMPHIBIAN POPULATIONS
HAD ALREADY CRASHED

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

THE FUNGUS HAS BEEN STEALTHY,

REACHING INTO UNTOUCHED
AREAS THAT HOLD

SOME OF EARTH'S
GREATEST TREASURES.

FROGS MIGHT BE DIMINUTIVE,

BUT THE STAKES ARE ENORMOUS.

MEDICAL SCIENCE

HAS BEGUN TO REALIZE THAT

FROGS ARE LITTLE GOLD MINES.

TO WARD OFF INFECTION,

MOST FROGS SECRETE
CHEMICALS FROM THEIR SKIN.

THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE POISONOUS.

THESE BRIGHT COLORS ARE A
FROG'S WARNING TO PREDATORS

THAT THEY COULD BE
A DANGEROUS MEAL.

THE COMPOUNDS ON FROG SKIN

HAVE TURNED MEDICAL
SCIENCE AROUND.

AN EXTRACT FROM THE SKIN

OF THIS LITTLE FROG BLOCKS PAIN

MORE EFFECTIVELY
THAN MORPHINE...

AND IT'S NOT ADDICTIVE.

THE PROPERTIES OF FROG SKIN

ARE BEING EXPLORED
FOR EVERYTHING

FROM TREATING INFECTIONS
TO PREVENTING HIV.

WE'VE JUST BEGUN TO MINE
THESE LITTLE TREASURES,

AND NOW THEY'RE SLIPPING AWAY
FASTER THAN WE CAN STUDY THEM.

BUT THE IMPACT ON
EARTH'S ECOSYSTEMS

IS EVEN MORE TROUBLING.

KAREN LIPS HAS RETURNED
TO HER FORMER STUDY SITE

IN CENTRAL PANAMA TO
MEASURE THE CHANGES.

WITHOUT THE FROGS,
THERE'S AN EERIE SILENCE.

IN EL COPE RESERVE,

A CONCRETE STATUE
MAY BE ALL THAT REMAINS

OF PANAMA'S
SPECTACULAR GOLDEN FROG.

Lips: BEFORE THE BIG CRASH,
THIS WAS A GREAT PLACE.

I THINK OUR TOTAL LIST
HERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE

64 SPECIES OF AMPHIBIANS.

IT DIDN'T MATTER REALLY
WHERE YOU WENT IN THE FOREST,

YOU WOULD FIND THEM ON
THE GROUND, ON THE LEAVES,

YOU'D HEAR THEM
UP IN THE CANOPY.

YOU COULD WALK ANY
TRAIL, ANY STREAM,

AND YOU WOULD HEAR
FROGS CALLING DAY AND NIGHT.

AND NOW,

YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST
NOTHING HERE ANYMORE.

Argo: CHYTRID IS HAVING
A DOMINO EFFECT.

FROGS SIT RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

WITHOUT THEM,

OTHER CREATURES
ARE DISAPPEARING, TOO.

Lips: WE'RE JUST BEGINNING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT A FOREST IS LIKE

AND HOW IT FUNCTIONS
WITHOUT FROGS.

EVER SINCE ALL THE
TADPOLES DISAPPEARED,

THESE STREAMS HAVE
BEEN REALLY SLIPPERY.

THERE'S GREEN ALGAE
GROWING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
THE BIG CHANGES THAT WE SEE

AFTER ALL THE FROGS
AND TADPOLES DISAPPEAR.

THE TADPOLES NOT
ONLY EAT THE ALGAE,

BUT THEY ALSO DISTURB
ALL THE SAND AND THE MUD,

AND SO ALL THAT GETS
FLUSHED OUT WITH THE CURRENT...

AND NOW THERE'S NO TADPOLES,

WE SEE CHANGES IN SOME
OF THE INSECTS, AS WELL.

WE'RE SEEING LOTS OF BIG
CHANGES IN THESE ECOSYSTEMS.

IT'S AFFECTING FISH,
AND WATER QUALITY,

SNAKES, BIRDS... YOU NAME IT.

BASICALLY EVERYTHING
WE'VE MEASURED HAS CHANGED.

Argo: CHYTRID IS ON THE MOVE.

WHILE IT'S SWEEPING DOWN
THROUGH CENTRAL AMERICA,

IT'S ALSO TRAVELING
NORTH FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

THERE'S ONLY A SMALL
AREA LEFT IN PANAMA

THAT STILL SEEMS
TO BE CHYTRID-FREE.

TWO HOURS SOUTH
OF THE PANAMA CANAL,

THERE'S A SMALL PATCH OF
FOREST CALLED BURBAYAR.

FOR THE FROGS HERE,

LIFE PLAYS OUT AS IT HAS
FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.

WHILE CHYTRID DRAWS CLOSER,
MIRACLES ARE STILL UNFOLDING.

THIS FATHER HAS BEEN GUARDING
HIS YOUNG FOR TWO WEEKS NOW.

THE TADPOLES ON A NEARBY
LEAF DON'T HAVE A GUARDIAN.

THEY'RE MORE MATURE, BUT STILL

DAYS FROM HATCHING.

A HEALTHY HABITAT IS FULL
OF PREDATORS—AND PREY.

NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL,

EVERY CREATURE PLAYS A ROLE.

THE FOREST HOLDS
THOUSANDS OF INSECT SPECIES.

SOME CAN DESTROY AN EGG
CLUTCH IN A MATTER OF HOURS...

EVEN IF AN INTRUDER DOESN'T
HAVE A TASTE FOR EGGS,

THIS FATHER IS
FIERCELY PROTECTIVE.

THOUGH THE OTHER SPECIES
DOESN'T GUARD ITS YOUNG,

IT'S DEVELOPED
ANOTHER DEFENSE...

WHEN ATTACKED,

THE TADPOLES WILL BREAK FREE,

GIVING THEM AT LEAST
A FIGHTING CHANCE.

HERE IN THE STREAM,

THE TADPOLES WILL
SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME

FEEDING ON ALGAE
AND SMALL PLANTS.

A FANTASTIC ARRAY
OF SURVIVAL TACTICS

HAS ALLOWED FROGS
TO BRAVE THE MILLENNIA.

BUT CHYTRID IS A
PREDATOR LIKE NONE OTHER...

AND IT'S MOVING IN FAST.

Lips: THE CLOCK IS TICKING...

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S
FELT LIKE MORE THAN ANYTHING

SINCE THAT FIRST FROG
IN '92, IS THE RUSH...

THE RUSH TO GET OUT,
TO DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

BEFORE ANOTHER SITE GOES.

Argo: LIPS AND HER STUDENTS

HAVE ESTABLISHED A NEW
STUDY SITE HERE AT BURBAYAR.

THEY'RE HOPING THAT CHYTRID,

AND THE Bd THAT CAUSES
IT, HAVEN'T ARRIVED YET.

Lips: WE'RE HERE TO TRY AND
GET MORE DATA TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT IS HAPPENING— HOW
DOES THIS THING GET AROUND?

CAN WE STOP IT?

Argo: THE FOREST
APPEARS TO BE HEALTHY,

WITH FROGS, AND
INSECTS, AND SNAKES...

BUT FOR HOW MUCH LONGER
WILL IT REMAIN INTACT?

Lips: WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF
PLACES WHERE FROGS ARE HEALTHY.

WE ESTIMATE, WITHIN TEN YEARS
ALL OF PANAMA WILL BE GONE.

WE'RE TALKING UPLAND AREAS,

BUT AS FAST AS YOU MOVE,
IT'S CONTINUING ITS PASSAGE.

Woman: I GOT A FROG.

AS SOON AS WE CATCH A FROG,

WE TAKE ITS BODY TEMPERATURE,

BECAUSE THERE'S A DEBATE
ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

AND HOW IT'S AFFECTING FROGS.

33.5°C.

NEXT WE'RE GOING TO SWAB IT,

AND WE'LL SEND THIS SAMPLE OFF

TO A LAB, AND THEY'LL TELL US

WHETHER OR NOT THIS FROG

IS INFECTED WITH Bd.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE JUST
GOING TO TAKE THIS LITTLE Q-TIP

AND SWAB THE FROG.

WE DO HIS BELLY, WE DO HIS FEET.

IF THERE'S ANY Bd,

IT'LL PICK IT UP, AND WE
SEND THIS OFF TO THE LAB,

AND THE LAB WILL TELL
US IF Bd IS ON THIS FROG.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA
LET YOU GO, BUDDY.

Lips: WE THINK THIS
SITE IS STILL CLEAN.

LOOK AT THAT...

THAT'S RHINOBOTHRYUMBOVALLII.

THEY'RE REALLY RARE.

THAT'S A BIG ONE.

THEY'RE A FROG-EATER.

HE'S OUT FORAGING, YOU
CAN SEE HIM TONGUE-FLICKING.

Argo: ONCE CHYTRID ARRIVES,
THIS SNAKE MAY WELL DISAPPEAR

ALONG WITH THE FROGS.

BASED ON WHAT LIPS FINDS HERE,

THEY MIGHT TAKE
EMERGENCY MEASURES.

Lips: IF WE HAVE TO, WE
WILL PUT SOME FROGS

INTO CAPTIVITY AS A SAFEGUARD

AGAINST THE EVENTUAL
ARRIVAL OF THE FUNGUS.

Argo: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT
TOOK PLACE IN CENTRAL PANAMA,

THREE YEARS AGO.

WITH CHYTRID FAST APPROACHING,

BIOLOGISTS EVACUATED FROGS
FROM THE SURROUNDING FOREST.

THESE REFUGEES ARE SO CLOSE...

AND YET SO FAR FROM
THEIR CLOUD FOREST.

AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAINS
SITS A HUMBLE BUILDING

THAT'S SERVING AS AN ARK.

THE EL VALLE AMPHIBIAN
CONSERVATION CENTER

IS AN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT
LAUNCHED BY THE HOUSTON ZOO.

"EVACC" SHELTERS
58 SPECIES OF FROGS...

SOME OF THE RAREST ON EARTH.

THIS BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN
FROG IS UNIQUE TO PANAMA.

IT LACKS EARDRUMS,

AND COMMUNICATES
BY WAVING ITS ARMS.

THEY'RE CONSIDERED
GOOD LUCK BY PANAMANIANS,

BUT BECAUSE OF CHYTRID, THEY
MAY BE GONE FROM THE WILD.

EDGARDO GRIFFITH RUNS THE
CENTER WITH HIS WIFE, HEIDI ROSS.

THEY HAVE TO TRY TO
REPLICATE THE CLOUD FOREST...

LIGHT, TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY...
EVERYTHING HAS TO BE RIGHT.

AND FEEDING SO MANY MOUTHS
IS A NEVER-ENDING CHALLENGE.

WE JUST RINSE THEM
OFF, JUST BECAUSE

THE WORMS MIGHT
HAVE CHYTRID ON THEM.

WE TRY NOT TO PUT
ANYTHING, LIKE DIRT,

WITHOUT DISINFECTING IT

BEFORE PUTTING IT
INSIDE THE BUILDING.

Argo: EVERYTHING ENTERING EVACC

HAS TO BE CHYTRID-FREE...

EVERY PERSON, EVERY WORM,

EVERY ROCK AND PLANT.

THESE HORNED TREE FROGS

MIMIC LEAVES IN THE FOREST.

EVEN THE FROGLETS ARE
BRILLIANTLY DISGUISED.

BUT THE BEST OF CAMOUFLAGE

CAN'T PROTECT A
FROG FROM CHYTRID.

IN THE QUARANTINE ROOM,

NEW ARRIVALS ARE PUT
THROUGH A GRUELING PROCESS.

WE DON'T YET KNOW HOW
TO RID A HABITAT OF CHYTRID,

BUT INDIVIDUAL
FROGS CAN BE TREATED.

IT'S OKAY, MY FRIEND, IT'S OKAY.

IT'S OKAY.

LOOK AT YOU.

WHEN WE STARTED
COLLECTING THE ANIMALS IN 2006,

WE LOST LIKE 50% OF THEM.

THESE FROGS CAN
LIVE FOR YEARS...

PROBABLY 20, 25 YEARS.

THE TREATMENT
EQUIVALENT WOULD BE

FOR A PERSON GOING
UNDER CHEMOTHERAPY.

I'LL LEAVE IT THERE
FOR 10 MINUTES.

IT'S A VERY INVASIVE PROCESS,

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO
KEEP THE FROGS IN CONTACT

WITH THIS SOLUTION, WHICH
IS A REALLY STRONG SOLUTION,

FOR TEN MINUTES FOR TEN DAYS.

I'M PRETTY SURE THAT
SHE DOESN'T LIKE TO BE

IN THAT LITTLE CUP WITH
THAT NASTY SOLUTION,

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT TELLS ME

THAT SHE KNOWS SOMEHOW

THAT WE ARE TRYING TO HELP HER.

FOR MOST PEOPLE, THEY WOULDN'T
THINK THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT,

BECAUSE IT'S A BROWN,
BUMPY, LITTLE UGLY FROG,

BUT THIS ANIMAL
HERE IS TELLING US

THAT WE ARE DOING
SOMETHING WRONG.

Argo: AT EVACC,
SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY

EGG CLUTCHES AND TADPOLES.

THEY RECENTLY CELEBRATED

THE FIRST GOLDEN
FROGLET TO METAMORPHOSE.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO
THE INEVITABLE SETBACKS.

IT'S OVER HERE.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE
CENTER'S FIRST RESCUES.

THERE'S ALWAYS PARASITES
AND SUCH LINED UP,

JUST WAITING... SO
THE FIRST MISTAKE,

IT WILL SHOW US THAT WE'RE
NOT DOING THINGS RIGHT.

ONCE THEY PRESENT THE SYMPTOMS,

IT'S OFTENTIMES TOO LATE.

SEE THIS?

OH, MY GOSH!

THERE'S A GIGANTIC PARASITE

THAT WAS INTERNAL.

WHEN THE HOST DIED,

I'M SURE THE PARASITE CAME OUT.

SO MANY THINGS

THAT WE DON'T KNOW
ABOUT THESE ANIMALS,

SO MANY NEW
SPECIES OF PARASITES.

WE CAN NEVER GET USED TO
THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPENING.

Argo: THE ULTIMATE GOAL
IS TO RETURN THESE FROGS

TO THE WILD SOMEDAY.

SCIENTISTS ARE
WORKING TO FIND WAYS

TO CONTROL CHYTRID
IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

BUT FOR NOW, IT'S
STILL A DISTANT DREAM.

AND THINGS IN EL VALLE
ARE CHANGING QUICKLY.

HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
MIGHT BE RE-WRITING THE FUTURE

FOR PANAMA'S FROGS.

Griffith: THEY'RE
DEVELOPING THIS AREA.

LAST YEAR I CAME THIS
WAY, AND I GOT LOST.

THERE ARE SO MANY NEW ROADS HERE

THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
WHERE I WAS GOING ANYMORE.

LESS THAN A YEAR AGO,
THERE WAS ONLY ONE ROAD.

TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN WE
STARTED THE EVACC PROJECT,

WE CAME HERE AND WE
COLLECTED SOME FROGS

FROM THIS PARTICULAR PLACE,

AND IN LESS THAN A YEAR,
THEY CLEARED THE WHOLE THING.

THIS IS GOING TO BE
SOMEBODY'S HOUSE.

I FEEL JUST PANIC,

BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK UP THAT
WAY, THERE'S A LOT OF FOREST,

BUT THE SAME THING
THAT HAPPENED HERE

CAN HAPPEN TO THAT
FOREST IN LESS THAN A YEAR.

IT DOESN'T MATTER NOW
MANY SAFE, HEALTHY FROGS

WE HAVE AT THE CENTER...

IF HABITAT LOSS CONTINUES,

WHERE ARE WE GOING TO
PUT THE FROGS IN THE FUTURE,

IF WE FIGURE OUT
HOW TO HELP THEM

SO THEY CAN FIGHT
THE FUNGUS IN THE WILD?

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A
PLACE FOR THE FROGS ANYMORE.

Argo: THERE IS HOPE THAT
A FEW INDIVIDUAL FROGS

MIGHT BE RESISTANT TO CHYTRID,

BUT RUNOFF FROM THE DEVELOPMENT

IS MAKING THE STREAM
UNHEALTHY FOR FROGS.

Griffith: I WILL NEVER GIVE UP.

I WILL STILL COME EVERY TIME
WHEN I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY,

BECAUSE THERE IS
ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY

FOR US TO FIND FROGS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT,

YOU KNOW, EVERY
MORNING YOU THINK ABOUT.

Argo: CHYTRID HAS
BEEN DEVASTATING,

BUT IT'S BY NO MEANS THE
ONLY THREAT TO AMPHIBIANS.

IN PARTS OF THE U.S. WHERE FROGS
HAVEN'T BEEN LOST TO THE FUNGUS,

THEY'RE BEING HIT
BY OTHER FORCES,

RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS.

IN MINNESOTA, 13 YEARS AGO,

A GROUP OF SCHOOL KIDS

TOOK A FIELD TRIP
TO LOOK FOR FROGS.

WHAT THEY FOUND WAS
THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES...

THEY FOUND FROGS
WITH EXTRA LIMBS,

MISSING LIMBS,

DEFORMITIES THAT
SEEMED TO DEFY NATURE.

SIMILAR REPORTS BEGAN TO
SURFACE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY,

SOUNDING AN ALARM.

AT YALE UNIVERSITY,

DR. DAVID SKELLY
AND HIS STUDENTS

HAVE BEEN COLLECTING DEFORMED
FROGS FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.

THEIR FINDINGS HAVE
DISTURBING IMPLICATIONS...

FOR FROGS AND HUMANS ALIKE.

SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED
THAT A KIND OF PARASITE

CAN CAUSE MULTIPLE LIMBS...

BUT SKELLY IS CONCERNED
ABOUT OTHER DEFORMITIES

THAT HAVE YET TO BE EXPLAINED.

Skelly: THIS IS A LEOPARD FROG,

AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THEY'RE INFECTED WITH

A PARASITE CALLED RIBEIROIA.

THIS IS ONE OF THE CAUSES

FOR LIMB DEFORMITIES
IN THE NATURAL WORLD.

WHILE THE ANIMALS
WITH THE EXTRA LEGS

GET A LOT OF ATTENTION,

THIS IS THE ANIMAL THAT
REALLY CONCERNS ME...

THIS IS A LEOPARD
FROG METAMORPH,

AS WELL, AND IT'S GOT
ONLY ONE HIND LIMB.

THIS IS THE ANIMAL'S TAIL HERE.

WHAT MAKES THESE
ANIMALS SO SIGNIFICANT IS

WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT
CAUSES THESE KINDS OF DEFORMITIES.

THE PARASITE IS NOT FOUND
WHERE THIS FROG WAS COLLECTED.

SO THAT CAN'T BE
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING ELSE,
AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

Argo: SKELLY HAS BEEN
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

IN SOME UNLIKELY PLACES.

HERE IN SUBURBAN CONNECTICUT,

HE'S FINDING THAT LIFE
MIGHT NOT BE AS SHELTERED

AS FOLKS ONCE THOUGHT.

THE AVERAGE RESIDENT MIGHT BE
HASTENING THE DEMISE OF FROGS,

WHILE THEY UNDERMINE
THEIR OWN HEALTH.

Skelly: WE STARTED SAMPLING
THIS POND A FEW YEARS AGO,

AND WE'RE FINDING REPRODUCTIVE
DEFORMITIES IN THE FROGS.

THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

IN SUBURBAN PONDS LIKE THIS,

WE'RE FINDING THAT ABOUT
21% OF ALL THE FROGS

HAVE DEFORMITIES... THAT IS,

MALE FROGS ARE GROWING
EGGS INSIDE THEIR TESTES.

AND THAT IS NOT NORMAL AT ALL.

Argo: THE DUCKWEED

THAT'S CHOKING THIS POND

IS PROBABLY CAUSED BY CHEMICALS

LIKE FERTILIZERS.

BUT SKELLY IS ALSO
CONCERNED ABOUT COMPOUNDS

THAT ARE LESS CONSPICUOUS.

Skelly: I THINK A LOT OF
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE

THAT WHEN THEY USE CHEMICALS,

OR IF THEY FLUSH
MEDICATIONS DOWN THEIR TOILET,

THAT IT COULD END UP PASSING
RIGHT OUT OF THE HOUSE,

RIGHT THROUGH A SEPTIC
FIELD, AND RIGHT INTO A POND.

IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING
PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT...

AND TO BE FAIR, IT'S NOT
SOMETHING THAT SCIENTISTS

AND REGULATORS AND POLICY MAKERS

HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT
VERY MUCH, EITHER.

ALL OF THAT WATER
COLLECTS IN THESE BASINS.

THINGS LIKE MEDICATIONS.

THERE ARE A HUGE RANGE
OF DRUGS THAT PEOPLE TAKE,

AND MANY OF THEM
LEAVE OUR BODIES INTACT.

WE'RE STARTING WITH

THE MOST OBVIOUS CANDIDATE—
BIRTH CONTROL PILLS.

WE KNOW IN THE LABORATORY
THAT SYNTHETIC ESTROGEN

CAN CAUSE THESE
KINDS OF PROBLEMS.

NOW WE JUST NEED TO FIGURE OUT

IF THAT IS WHAT'S GOING
ON IN PLACES LIKE THIS.

Argo: SKELLY'S ALARM IS
SHARED BY DR. TYRONE HAYES

AT U.C. BERKELEY.

Hayes: IF AN ENTIRE
CLASS OF ANIMALS

THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF YEARS

IS RAPIDLY DECLINING AND
POTENTIALLY GOING EXTINCT,

WE REALLY NEED TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE,

AND IF OUR ADVANCES WILL
EVENTUALLY HARM US ALL.

I REALLY LIKE THE SCIENCE.

I LIKE SOLVING THE
PUZZLE, I LIKE THE CSI.

I ALSO LIKE FROGS,

AND SO I ALSO FEEL A REAL
DRIVE TO HELP UNDERSTAND

HOW PESTICIDES
AND OTHER CHEMICALS

ARE AFFECTING
AMPHIBIAN POPULATIONS.

Argo: HAYES AND HIS STUDENTS

HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR
CLUES IN THE SALINAS VALLEY.

Hayes: 50% OF THE U.S.'s
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

COME OUT OF CALIFORNIA.

AND SOMETHING LIKE 85%
OF THE COUNTRY'S LETTUCE

COMES OUT OF SALINAS.

90% OF THE ALMONDS.

IT'S CALLED THE SALAD
BOWL OF AMERICA.

CALIFORNIA USES MORE
PESTICIDES THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

THE SECOND BIGGEST IS FLORIDA.

THINGS LIKE CHLOROPICRIN

IS USED OUT HERE ON
THE STRAWBERRIES...

CHLOROPICRIN IS A NERVE GAS.

THESE ARE THE GUYS
WHO ARE APPLYING IT,

THEY'RE OUT THERE PICKING IT.

METHYL BROMIDE IS A FUMIGANT,

SOMETHING THEY
PUMP INTO THE SOIL.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
OTHER BIG ONES, YOU GUYS?

DIAZINOL... SOME ATRAZINE...

THIS WILL ALL END
UP IN THE RIVER

THAT WE'RE WORKING IN HERE.

IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE

WE'RE OUT IN THE BUSH SOMEWHERE,

BUT 15 FEET ON EITHER SIDE,
WE'RE SURROUNDED BY AGRICULTURE,

AND THE RUNOFF
ENDS UP IN THIS RIVER.

ALL THE ALGAE IS THE
RESULT OF ALL THE NUTRIENTS,

BECAUSE A LOT OF FERTILIZERS
ARE USED IN AGRICULTURE,

AND ONCE THOSE FERTILIZERS

GET INTO THE WATER, YOU
GET THESE BLOOMS OF ALGAE.

I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S THE
SIGN OF A HEALTHY RIVER.

THIS IS A SITE WHERE
WE TYPICALLY FIND

COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS...

TADPOLES THAT AREN'T
ABLE TO FIGHT OFF DISEASE.

OUR DATA SO FAR SUGGESTS
THAT THE MIXTURE OF PESTICIDES

CAUSES AN INCREASE
IN STRESS HORMONES,

AND THOSE STRESS HORMONES
CAUSE IMMUNOSUPPRESSION,

WHICH LEADS TO THE
INABILITY TO RESPOND

TO ANY KIND OF DISEASE PATHOGEN.

Argo: WHILE INVESTIGATING
CHEMICAL RUNOFF,

HAYES STUMBLED
ON ANOTHER CULPRIT.

Hayes: WE STARTED GOING
TO THE SALINAS RIVER

LOOKING FOR THE
NATIVE RED-LEGGED FROG,

AND IT TURNS OUT THAT IT HAS
BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACED

ON THE RIVER BY BULLFROGS.

THIS INVASIVE BULLFROG ITSELF

IS ONE OF THE CAUSES FOR
DECLINE IN MANY OF THESE AREAS.

AND SO WE'RE STUDYING THEM

IN AREAS WHERE
THEY'RE NOT DOING WELL

TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT MAY BE DRIVING SOME OF

THE NATIVE SPECIES
TO EXTINCTION.

Argo: ENTREPRENEURS TRANSPORTED
BULLFROGS FROM THE EAST COAST,

HOPING TO FARM THEM FOR FOOD.

INSTEAD, THEY
UNLEASHED A CARNIVORE

THAT HAS DECIMATED
CALIFORNIA'S NATIVE FROGS.

IT SEEMS THAT

EVEN THE TOUGH BULLFROG

ISN'T DOING SO WELL
WITH THE TOXINS

IN THIS WATER.

BACK AT BERKELEY, HAYES IS
STUDYING ANOTHER NON-NATIVE.

AFRICAN CLAWED FROGS WERE ONCE
USED IN HUMAN PREGNANCY TESTS.

BUT WHEN THEY BECAME OBSOLETE,

MANY WERE DISCARDED.

THESE WERE COLLECTED FROM
STREAMS AROUND CALIFORNIA.

Hayes: WE'RE REMOVING
AN INVASIVE FROG,

AND WE'RE STUDYING THEM
TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND

DECLINING AMPHIBIANS.

HAYES IS TESTING THE
EFFECTS OF CHEMICALS

LIKE ATRAZINE, A
COMMON HERBICIDE.

Hayes: WE HAVE A
WHOLE FAMILY OF ANIMALS

WHERE WE'VE ELIMINATED
THE FEMALE CHROMOSOME.

Woman: SPECIMEN ZERO-ONE.

Hayes: THESE ANIMALS THAT
WE KNOW ARE GENETIC MALES

HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO
ATRAZINE FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIFE,

AND MANY OF THESE GENETIC MALES

NOW ARE TURNING INTO FEMALES.

YOU CAN SEE HE'S GOT EGGS

THAT KIND OF LOOK
LIKE THEY'RE IN A SAC.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY YOLKED
EGGS, READY TO BE LAID.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
YOU'RE SKEWING SEX RATIOS,

YOU CAN GET GENETIC
BOTTLENECKING,

WHICH CAN CAUSE
CRASHES, AND QUITE FRANKLY,

IF YOU'RE A GENETIC MALE,

IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU
DEVELOPED AS A GENETIC MALE,

AND NOW WE HAVE A CHEMICAL
VERY COMMON IN THE ENVIRONMENT,

THAT'S EFFECTIVELY
SEX-REVERSING ANIMALS.

I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU
SOMETHING PRETTY AMAZING,

SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING.

THE ONE THAT'S SORT OF
REMARKABLE IS THIS PAIR.

THESE ARE BOTH MALES.

THE ONE ON THE BOTTOM
ACTING AS THE FEMALE

WE AFFECTIONATELY
REFER TO AS "DARNELL."

HE'S A GENETIC MALE THAT
NOT ONLY ACTS LIKE A FEMALE,

HE LAYS EGGS LIKE A FEMALE.

HE/SHE HAS BEEN
EXPOSED TO ATRAZINE

ALL OF HER... HIS/HER LIFE...

I DON'T EVEN REALLY
KNOW HOW TO REFERENCE IT.

THIS IS DARNELL'S THIRD CLUTCH.

SO DARNELL HAS
SONS AND DAUGHTERS

THAT WE'VE GROWN UP.

YOU CAN SEE EGGS IN THE BOTTOM.

THIS IS ACTUALLY HER
SECOND CLUTCH FOR TODAY.

HE/SHE HAS BEEN COPULATING

FOR GETTING CLOSE
TO 24 HOURS NOW.

THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF
THE MOST REMARKABLE THINGS

I'VE SEEN IN MY WORK,

BUT I PERSONALLY
HAVE MIXED EMOTIONS.

I'M VERY EXCITED

ABOUT THE SCIENCE AND
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND

THE MECHANISM, BUT
ON THE OTHER HAND,

I AM WORRIED...

THIS IS THE MOST
COMMON CONTAMINANT

IN GROUND AND SURFACE
WATER, AND DRINKING WATER,

AND THE LEVEL OF
ATRAZINE THAT IT TOOK

TO MAKE THIS MALE
TURN INTO A FEMALE

IS THREE TIMES LESS THAN WHAT'S
ALLOWED IN OUR DRINKING WATER.

I REALLY THINK THAT THE
GLOBAL AMPHIBIAN DECLINE

IS TELLING US SOMETHING
ABOUT HUMAN HEALTH.

Argo: THE TOXINS IN OUR WATERS
ARE REACHING WELL BEYOND FROGS.

REPRODUCTIVE ABNORMALITIES HAVE
BEEN REPORTED IN EVERYTHING FROM

ALLIGATORS TO POLAR BEARS...

TO HUMANS.

Hayes: IT'S NOT JUST A
PROBLEM WITH FROGS

WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

THE WATER THAT'S
CAUSING THEIR PROBLEMS

IS THE SAME WATER
THAT WE'RE DRINKING

AND USING TO WATER OUR CROPS.

Argo: FROG OR HUMAN,

WE ALL BREATHE THE SAME
AIR AND DRINK THE SAME WATER.

FOR THEIR SAKE AND
OURS, EXPERTS AGREE...

WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION,
AND THERE'S NO TIME TO LOSE.

AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN HARD HIT
BY THE DEADLY FUNGUS, CHYTRID.

SEVEN SPECIES HAVE BEEN LOST,

AND MORE ARE ON A
FAST TRACK TO EXTINCTION.

NOW, ADD CLIMATE
CHANGE TO THE MIX.

AUSTRALIA IS EXPERIENCING ITS
WORST DROUGHT ON RECORD...

AND AMPHIBIANS ARE FEELING IT.

IN THE SOUTH, A POPULATION
OF BOOROOLONG FROGS

WAS EVACUATED WHEN
THEIR RIVER DRIED UP.

GERRY MARANTELLI HAS
BEEN BREEDING THE FROGS

TO HEDGE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE.

Marantelli: WE HAVE SOME
GOOD EGGS HERE, ERIKA.

THESE ARE FRESH,
BUT THEY'RE GOOD.

SOME NEW ONES.

Argo: JUST OUTSIDE OF MELBOURNE,
MARANTELLI AND HIS WIFE, ERIKA,

HAVE CREATED AN UNUSUAL ARK.

Marantelli: WE COULDN'T AFFORD
BUILDINGS WHEN WE STARTED.

WE THOUGHT, "WHAT DO WE DO?"

WE BOUGHT SHIPPING CONTAINERS.

SHIPPING CONTAINERS LIKE THIS

ARE WATERPROOF AND INSULATED,

AND WE CAN CONVERT THEM
INTO A PERFECTLY USEFUL LAB

FOR THESE FROGS,

INSTALLING IRRIGATION SYSTEMS...

ALL THE THINGS THAT
THE FROGS NEED...

BUT THEY'RE A
FRACTION OF THE PRICE.

AND TO TOP IT OFF,
THEY'RE PORTABLE,

SO WE CAN SHIP THEM ANYWHERE IN
THE WORLD WHERE FROGS NEED HELP.

Argo: HERE AT THE ARK

ARE AUSTRALIA'S MOST
ENDANGERED FROGS...

THE BOOROOLONG FROG,

THE SPOTTED TREE FROG,

AND THE EXTRAORDINARY
CORROBOREE.

ITS NAME IS AN ABORIGINAL WORD

FOR "CELEBRATION"
OR "GATHERING,"

WHERE THE ELDERS OFTEN
WEAR BLACK AND YELLOW PAINT.

CORROBOREES USED
TO BE PLENTIFUL,

BUT CHYTRID HAS
PUSHED THEM TO THE EDGE.

THE MARANTELLIS ARE VEHEMENT

ABOUT RETURNING
FROGS TO THE WILD.

Marantelli: THE QUICKER
WE CAN UNDERSTAND

THE PROBLEMS THEY
FACE, FIX THE PROBLEMS,

AND GET THESE FROGS BACK
INTO THE WILD, THE BETTER.

THEY CAN'T LIVE IN A
FISH TANK FOR 100 YEARS...

WE DISRUPT THE THINGS
THAT EAT THE FROGS,

THE THINGS THAT THE FROGS EAT.

THEY ARE PART OF AN ECOSYSTEM,

AND THIS TANK IS
NOT AN ECOSYSTEM.

Argo: THESE LITTLE FROGS ARE
HEADED BACK TO THEIR STREAM.

THE DROUGHT HAS
FINALLY BROKEN...

AT LEAST FOR NOW.

Marantelli: THESE ARE
BOOROOLONG FROGS

FROM BOOROOREE CREEK.

WITH CLIMATE CHANGE,

BOOROOREE CREEK DRIED
UP IN THE LAST DROUGHT,

SO WE HAD TO BRING THEM
INTO CAPTIVITY AND BREED THEM,

AND THESE ARE ALL THE YOUNG ONES

THAT WE'RE TAKING BACK
TO BOOROOREE CREEK.

WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT
OVER 500 FROGS TO GO BACK.

YOU'LL BE BACK TO
BOOROOREE CREEK TOMORROW.

ARE YOU EXCITED? LOOK AT THAT!

YOU LOOK EXCITED!

WITH THE BOOROOLONG FROG,

CLIMATE CHANGE...
WARMING CONDITIONS

AND THE PROLONGED DROUGHT,

ALL OF THAT SORT
OF CAME TOGETHER

AND MADE THE
STREAM STOP FLOWING.

THE FACT THAT THOSE HABITATS
ARE CHANGING RIGHT NOW

MEANS SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG,

AND THAT MEANS WE'VE
GOT TO DO SOMETHING

ABOUT HELPING THE LITTLE GUYS.

LOOK AT THAT!

YOU WANT TO SEE SOME
BOOROOLONG FROGS?

HAVE A LOOK.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE?
THERE'S YOUR NEW FRIENDS.

YOU LISTEN TO THEM TONIGHT.

Argo: MARANTELLI HAS KEPT
SOME FROGS BACK AT THE CENTER

AS A SAFEGUARD.

WITH CLIMATE CHANGE,
THEY MIGHT NEED HELP AGAIN.

LOOK AT THAT... WELCOME HOME!

THEY RELEASE SOME
OF THE FROGLETS

IN THE AFTERNOON LIGHT;

THEY'LL SHARE THE
REST WITH THE LOCALS.

NOT UP THERE... A
BIRD WILL EAT YOU.

GO AND FIND A LITTLE
CREVICE. GO HOME.

OH, LOOK AT THIS FAT ONE, HARRY!

Marantelli: I LOVE IT WHEN
KIDS ARE LOOKING AT FROGS.

THERE, THAT'S A HUGE FAT ONE.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO, WE FEED THEM

LOTS AND LOTS AND
LOTS OF CRICKETS...

MORE CRICKETS THAN YOU'VE
EVER SEEN IN YOUR LIFE.

IF THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED,

THEN THE PROJECT
FALLS APART IN 50 YEARS.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SURE THE COMMUNITY'S ON BOARD,

PARTICULARLY WHERE THE
COMMUNITY LIVES AMONGST THE FROGS.

TIP EVERYTHING UP
AND TIP THEM OUT.

THEY'RE OUT THERE
WATCHING THE HABITAT,

AND THEY'LL LOOK
AFTER THOSE CREEKS

NOW THAT THE BOOROOLONG
FROGS ARE BACK.

WE'RE JUST A BRIDGE
ACROSS A BUMP...

FOR ALL OF THESE FROGS...

WHETHER IT TAKES US A YEAR
TO HELP THEM OUT, OR TEN YEARS,

OR TWENTY YEARS,
WE SHOULD ALWAYS

BE TRYING TO PUT THEM BACK.

Argo: EVEN THE
MOST DIRE SITUATION

WON'T DETER MARANTELLI.

THESE SPOTTED TREE FROGS

HAVE BEEN STRUCK
HARD BY CHYTRID.

ON THE STREAM
WHERE THEY ONCE LIVED,

THE FUNGUS WIPED OUT
AN ENTIRE POPULATION.

ONLY ONE MALE WAS SPARED.

WITH THE HELP OF
CAPTIVE FEMALES,

MARANTELLI BRED THEM
BACK FROM EXTINCTION...

AND THREE YEARS AGO,

THEY BEGAN RETURNING FROGS,

DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF CHYTRID.

EACH SPRING, THE TEAM COMES BACK

TO LOOK FOR SURVIVORS.

Marantelli: WE HAVE
NO OTHER CHOICE

BUT TO HELP THESE FROGS
DEVELOP RESISTANCE.

EVEN IF WE HAVE TO
BREED SO MANY FROGS

AND PUT THEM OUT THERE
WHERE 95% OF THEM DIE.

WHO DOESN'T DIE?

THE RESISTANT ONES.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO IS DRIVE EVOLUTION,

SO THESE FROGS WILL BE
ABLE TO LIVE WITH CHYTRID.

DON'T YOU MOVE, LITTLE FROGGIE!

GOT HIM! DID YOU CATCH HIM?

YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S ONE OF OUR BABIES.

THIS IS WHERE THEY
WERE WIPED OUT

BY THE CHYTRID FUNGUS.

WE'VE JUST BROUGHT A
FROG BACK FROM EXTINCTION.

YOU CAN'T DO MUCH
BETTER THAN THAT.

THEY GREW UP IN OUR
LAB, WE PUT THEM BACK,

AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THEM

EVEN TWO AND THREE YEARS
AFTER WE'VE LET THEM GO.

TO FIND THEM SURVIVING
WITH THE CHYTRID FUNGUS

SHOWS US THAT WE
CAN PUT FROGS BACK,

THEY CAN LIVE HERE
WITH THE FUNGUS,

AND IT GIVES US SOME REAL HOPE.

Argo: IT LOOKS LIKE THE FROG
MIGHT BE WINNING THIS ROUND.

BUT WITH PRESSURES COMING
FROM SO MANY DIRECTIONS,

STEMMING THE CRISIS MEANS
ATTACKING IT ON EVERY FRONT...

WHETHER IT'S CHYTRID,
OR HABITAT LOSS.

HERE IN THE HEART OF GEORGIA,

THE ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDENS
USED TO FOCUS ONLY ON PLANTS.

TWELVE YEARS AGO, THEY
DECIDED TO GIVE AMPHIBIANS

SOME MUCH-NEEDED HELP.

TODAY THEY HOUSE
OVER 30 SPECIES,

MANY OF THEM RESCUED FROM PANAMA

WHEN CHYTRID SWEPT THROUGH.

BUT THESE DAYS,
SOME OF GEORGIA'S

VERY OWN FROGS ARE IN TROUBLE.

THE GOPHER FROG HAS LOST
ALMOST ALL OF ITS HABITAT.

TO BRING IT BACK FROM THE EDGE,

THE GARDENS IS PART OF
A HEAD START PROGRAM.

THEY'RE RAISING FROGLETS.

NOW THAT THEY'RE PAST

THEIR MOST VULNERABLE
STAGE, THESE LITTLE GUYS

ARE ABOUT TO HIT THE ROAD.

THEY WERE RAISED FROM EGGS

BY ROBERT HILL, AND
NOW THEY'RE GOING

BACK TO THE WILD.

Hill: THE GOPHER FROG IS RIGHT
HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.

AND IT DOESN'T TAKE
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS

OF DOLLARS.

THEY JUST NEED A HELPING HAND.

Argo: JOHN JENSEN,

WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES,

KNOWS THAT RETURNING THESE FROGS

IS NOT AS SIMPLE
AS IT MIGHT SOUND.

THE GOPHER FROG

HAS LOST 97% OF ITS HABITAT.

Jensen: WHEN YOU HAVE 3%
OF THIS HABITAT REMAINING,

AND ALL THESE ANIMALS
THAT DEPEND ON IT,

IT'S OBVIOUS WHY
THEY'RE DISAPPEARING.

Argo: THE GOPHER TORTOISE

ALSO LIVES HERE.

REMARKABLY, THE FROGS
SHARE THE TORTOISES' BURROWS,

WHICH CAN REACH TEN FEET DEEP.

GOPHER FROGS DEPEND
NOT ONLY ON THE WETLAND,

BUT THE SURROUNDING FOREST.

THANKS TO THE
NATURE CONSERVANCY,

THEY NOW HAVE NEARLY 2,000 ACRES

OF PROTECTED HABITAT.

NOW, IT'S UP TO THE FROGS.

Hill: WHEN YOU'VE SPENT

A LOT OF TIME RAISING
THESE LITTLE GUYS UP

FROM LITTLE TINY
BLACK DOTS IN A JELLY,

IT'S KIND OF LIKE
SENDING YOUR KID

OFF TO SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST DAY.

THIS IS WHAT
CONSERVATION IS ALL ABOUT...

IT'S NOT JUST KEEPING
IT ALIVE IN A ZOO,

IT'S BREEDING IT AND BEING ABLE
TO PUT IT BACK WHERE IT BELONGS.

Argo: IF WE CAN EASE AT LEAST

SOME OF THE PRESSURES ON FROGS,

WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP
THEM WEATHER THE STORM.

BACK IN YOSEMITE,
KNAPP HAS DECIDED

IT'S TIME TO TAKE SOME CHANCES

WITH THE MOUNTAIN
YELLOW-LEGGED FROG.

A FEW POPULATIONS

SEEM TO BE HOLDING THEIR
GROUND WITH THE FUNGUS.

COULD THEY BE RESISTANT?

AND IF SO,

COULD THEY RE-COLONIZE
SOME OF THE PONDS

WHERE THE FROGS HAVE BEEN LOST?

KNAPP FEELS IT'S
WORTH TAKING THE RISK.

THE TEAM IS COLLECTING FROGS
FROM A HEALTHY POPULATION

TO RELOCATE THEM.

Knapp: WE'RE GOING TO BE

MOVING THESE FROGS

FIVE OR SIX MILES
TO SOME NEW SITES,

AND THEN WE'LL
RETURN TO THOSE LAKES

THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER,

RECAPTURING THOSE FROGS

AND THEN SWABBING EACH FROG,

TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF
HOW WELL THEY'RE SURVIVING

IN THAT NEW ENVIRONMENT.

Argo: EACH ONE IS SWABBED
FOR THE FUNGUS AND GIVEN AN ID.

Knapp: WE INSERT
THIS LITTLE TAG,

THAT'S THE SAME TAG THAT
SOME PEOPLE PUT IN THEIR PETS.

IT ESSENTIALLY GIVES EACH FROG

A UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER,

AND THAT ALLOWS US TO IDENTIFY
INDIVIDUALS THROUGH TIME.

IT IS A LITTLE NERVE-RACKING

TO MOVE THESE FROGS,

BECAUSE CHANCES ARE GOOD
IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS

FOLLOWING THEIR
MOVE TO A NEW LAKE,

THEY'RE ALL GOING TO DISAPPEAR.

IN THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO,

YOU'RE SACRIFICING
THOSE INDIVIDUALS

TO LEARN SOMETHING
THAT MIGHT BENEFIT

THE SPECIES AS A WHOLE,

AND AMPHIBIANS AROUND
THE WORLD AS A WHOLE.

BUT IT'S PRETTY HARD TO
SACRIFICE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

THEY'RE NOT JUST A NUMBER.

Argo: THE FROGS
WILL BE AIRLIFTED

TO THE RELOCATION SITE,

TO AVOID THE STRESS OF

A FIVE-HOUR HIKE IN A BACKPACK.

BACK IN AUSTRALIA,
THE RACE CONTINUES.

CHYTRID HAS SWEPT
THROUGH THESE MOUNTAINS.

HERE IN THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS,

KOSCIUSZKO NATIONAL PARK

SHELTERS THE LAST OF
AUSTRALIA'S CORROBOREE FROGS.

PARKS AND WILDLIFE
OF NEW SOUTH WALES

IS ON A MISSION.

WITH THE HELP OF
GERRY MARANTELLI,

THEY HOPE TO SAVE

THIS REMARKABLE SPECIES.

THESE LITTLE GUYS HAVE
SURVIVED THE EONS...

THEY OUTLIVED THE DINOSAURS.

BUT NOW THEY'RE BLINKING OUT.

FEWER THAN 200
REMAIN IN THE WILD.

AS AN EMERGENCY MEASURE,

LAST FALL, 1,000
CORROBOREE TADPOLES

WERE RELEASED INTO TUBS
OF CHYTRID-FREE WATER.

IN THESE PROTECTED NURSERIES,

IT'S HOPED THAT THE
YOUNGSTERS WILL MAKE IT THROUGH

THEIR MOST VULNERABLE
STAGE, AND DEVELOP

A RESISTANCE TO THE
FUNGUS IN THE WILD.

MARANTELLI AND DAVE HUNTER

FROM PARKS AND WILDLIFE

ARE BACK TO SEE IF ANY
SURVIVED THE ICY WINTER.

Marantelli: OH, THERE'S ONE!

TADPOLES HERE, TOO.

Hunter: THAT'S A HUGE RELIEF.

Marantelli: HOW ARE
OUR LITTLE TADDIES?

OH, THERE'S TWO IN THERE.

THERE'S SOME IN THIS ONE.

AND LOTS OF TADDIES IN THIS ONE.

TADPOLES HERE, TOO. FANTASTIC.

AND TADDIES IN THIS ONE.

Marantelli: WE'RE GOING TO SAVE

SOME OF THEM, AND
WE'RE GOING TO SAVE

AS MANY AS WE CAN.

I HOPE THAT WE GET IT RIGHT
BEFORE THESE GUYS GO EXTINCT.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING

ABOUT FIXING THIS PROBLEM.

IF WE DON'T DO THAT,

AS HUMANS, THEN THERE'S
SOMETHING WRONG WITH ALL OF US.

EVERYBODY HAS TO ACT LOCALLY
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IF WE DON'T ACT NOW,

THERE MIGHT NOT BE
TIME TO TURN IT AROUND.

IT'S INCREDIBLY SAD TO
WANDER THROUGH A HABITAT

AND SEE WHERE A FROG ONCE LIVED.

I'VE STOOD IN STREAMS
THAT WERE SILENT,

AND I'VE LISTENED
ALL OVER THE WORLD

TO PLACES WHERE
FROGS HAVE VANISHED,

AND THE GHOSTS ARE THERE.

YOU KNOW, I FEEL THE
GHOSTS OF THOSE CREATURES.

WE JUST CAN'T KEEP
LETTING THAT HAPPEN.

IT'S AMAZING— THERE USED TO BE

AS MANY AS A HUNDRED OF
THESE TO EVERY SQUARE METER.

I REALLY HOPE ONE DAY

I CAN BRING MY KIDS BACK HERE

AND FIND A HUNDRED TO A
SQUARE METER ONCE AGAIN.

BUT IT'S NOT LOOKING TOO GOOD
FOR THIS GUY AT THE MOMENT.

GOOD LUCK, LITTLE FELLOW.