Colombo: Around 21 rare species of frogs have become extinct in Sri Lanka, conservationists said, adding that the island nation, known for its biodiversity, should take immediate steps to arrest the trend.

The World Conservation Union which declared 2008 as "the year of frog" has said 21 out of the 35 rare species of frogs and toads have become extinct.

The Union brings together 83 states, 110 government agencies, more than 800 NGOs, and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership.

"Though as many as 50 new amphibian (frogs, toads and salamanders) species have been introduced during the last ten years, 35 of them have vanished from the world, with Sri Lanka accounting for around 60 per cent of it," said Andrew Ingles, Head of the Livelihood and Landscapes wing of the ICUN.

On measures required to overcome the problem of extinction of these amphibians, Ingles told the Daily Mirror that it was important to create and intensify the awareness campaign.

He said the service sector and media should perform their corporate social responsibilities. Ingles said the gravity of the problem of extinction of frog species came to light between 2001 and 2003,when a global amphibian assessment was conducted where hundreds of scientists around the world had a look at the status of the amphibians.

"That revealed that 30 per cent of around 6,000 are threatened with extinction with Sri Lanka accounting for a sizeable amount," Ingles said.

Source : PTI