02/17/19

Winners of the 2018 Rainforest Photo Contest

We’re pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Frogs Are Green Rainforest Photo Contest.
 

1st Place, Keeled slug eating snake, Pareas Carinatus, photographed by Kris Bell

1st Place, Keeled slug eating snake, Pareas Carinatus, photographed by Kris Bell.

2nd Place, Asian Vine Snake, Ahaetulla Prasina, photographed by Shani Cohen

2nd Place, Asian Vine Snake, Ahaetulla Prasina, photographed by Shani Cohen

3rd Place, A nonchalant frog by Elliot Pelling, photographer

3rd Place, A nonchalant frog by Elliot Pelling, photographer

Maned Forest Lizard (Broncochela jubata), Farits Alhadi

Maned Forest Lizard (Broncochela jubata), Farits Alhadi

Harlequin Tree Frog (Rhacophorus pardalis)-South Kalimantan, Zain Basriansyah

Harlequin Tree Frog (Rhacophorus pardalis)-South Kalimantan, Zain Basriansyah

Farits Alhadi, Chiromantis vittiger, The male guarding his eggs until hatching, Indonesia

Farits Alhadi, Chiromantis vittiger, The male guarding his eggs until hatching, Indonesia

Cave Racer - Orthriophis taeniurus, photographed by Elliot Pelling

Cave Racer - Orthriophis taeniurus, photographed by Elliot Pelling

1st-Place-Keeled-slug-eating-snake-Pareas-Carinatus-Photographed-by-Kris-Bell thumbnail
2nd-Place-Asian-Vine-Snake-Ahaetulla-Prasina-photographed-by-Shani-Cohen thumbnail
3rd-Place-a-nonchalant-frog-Elliot-Pelling-photographer thumbnail
Maned Forest Lizard (Broncochela jubata), Farits Alhadi thumbnail
Harlequin Tree Frog (Rhacophorus pardalis)-South Kalimantan, Zain Basriansyah thumbnail
farits alhadi, Chiromantis vittiger, The male guarding his eggs until hatching, Indonesia thumbnail
Cave Racer - Orthriophis taeniurus, Elliot Pelling thumbnail

 

Winners:

1st Place – Kris Bell, Keeled slug-eating snake (Pareas carinatus), photographed in Thailand.
2nd Place – Shani Cohen, Asian Vine Snake – Ahaetulla prasina, photographed at Krabi Province, Thailand.
3rd Place – Elliot Pelling, A nonchalant frog. A green vine snake (Ahaetulla nasuta) having just caught a frog (Fejervarya kudremukhensis).
 

Honorable Mentions:

Farits Alhadi, Maned Forest Lizard (Broncochela jubata) This lizard was photographed in West Java, Indonesia.
Zain Basriansyah, Harlequin Tree Frog (Rhacophorus pardalis)-South Kalimantan
Farits Alhadi, Chiromantis vittiger – The male guarding his eggs until hatching, Indonesia.
Elliot Pelling, Cave Racer – Orthriophis taeniurus
 

01/21/18

Winners of the 2017 Amphibian and Reptile Photo Contest

Frogs Are Green wants to thank all the amazing wildlife photographers from around the world who submitted such a wide variety of amphibians and reptiles. We had frogs (of course), turtles and snakes, but we also received alligators, lizards and more! Between our photo contest and kids art contest we received entries from more than 30 countries this year! Thank our to our judges, John Dunstan, Gaye Dunstan, Sam Pesin, Beverly D’Andrea, Jerome China, and Devin Edmonds! We know how hard it is to choose!

– Susan Newman, founder,  Frogs Are Green Inc. – A New Jersey nonprofit organization.

 

Announcing the Winners of the 2017 Frogs Are Green Photo Contest

(Theme: Amphibians and Reptiles)

1st Place: Ronald Zimmerman – Emerald Glassfrog (Espadarana prosoblepon), Ecuador

Ronald Zimmerman, Emerald Glassfrog (Espadarana prosoblepon), Ecuador

Ronald Zimmerman, Emerald Glassfrog (Espadarana prosoblepon), Ecuador

2nd Place: Deep-Rajwar – King Portrait (Snake)

Deep-Rajwar - King Portrait

Deep-Rajwar – King Portrait

3rd Place: ©Ajay Singh Rajawat (Snake and Frog)

…And this time Reptile wins the game of death. Checkered Keelback snake swallowing Indian Bullfrog. Shot at Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh), India.

Ajay Singh Rajawat - Checkered Keelback snake swallowing Indian Bullfrog, India

Ajay Singh Rajawat – Checkered Keelback snake swallowing Indian Bullfrog, India.

Honorable Mention: Amanda Gilbert, Loveland, Ohio, (Turtle)

Amanda Gilbert, Loveland, Ohio, turtle

Amanda Gilbert, Loveland, Ohio, turtle

 

Winners of the “Best Amphibian Photo 2017”

1st Place: Sebastian Hernandez, Rhinella margaritifera, Ecuador

Sebastian-Hernandez-Rhinella margaritifera, Ecuador

Sebastian Hernandez, Rhinella margaritifera, Ecuador

2nd Place: Ronald Zimmerman, Gliding Treefrog (Agalychnis spurrelli), Ecuador

Ronald Zimmerman, Gliding Treefrog (Agalychnis spurrelli), Ecuador

Ronald Zimmerman, Gliding Treefrog (Agalychnis spurrelli), Ecuador

3rd Place: Krukarg-Tree frog on my coneflowers in my front yard near Tomahawk, Wisconsin

Krukarg-Tree frog on my coneflowers in my front yard near Tomahawk, Wisconsin

Krukarg-Tree frog on my coneflowers in my front yard near Tomahawk, Wisconsin

Honorable Mention: Linda Bailey – Birmingham, MI – Oophaga Pumilio Punta Laurent

Linda Bailey - Birmingham, MI - Oophaga Pumilio Punta Laurent

Linda Bailey – Birmingham, MI – Oophaga Pumilio Punta Laurent

 

Winners of the “Best Reptile Photo 2017”

1st Place: Miriam Christine, striking eyes,  Green Vine Snake (Ahaetulla nasuta)

Miriam Christine, striking eyes,  Green Vine Snake (Ahaetulla nasuta)

Miriam Christine, striking eyes, Green Vine Snake (Ahaetulla nasuta)

2nd Place: Deep Rajwar – Red-tailed bamboo pit viper

Deep Rajwar - Red-tailed bamboo pit viper

Deep Rajwar – Red-tailed bamboo pit viper

3rd Place: Christian Spencer, Python mask

Christian Spencer, Python mask

Christian Spencer, Python mask

02/12/17

Winners 2016 Photo Contests

Frogs Are Green thanks photographers from around the world for entering our annual two contests, Frogs in the Wild and Backyard Frogs.

The entries were creative, exceptional and came in from our own New Jersey, states around the USA, and countries such as Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Australia.

We thank the judges for their selections and applaud their effort.

Winners of the 2016 Frogs in the Wild Photo Contest

1st Place: Juan David Fernandez, Hypsiboas punctatus, Colombia
2nd Place: Ronald Zimmerman, Reticulated Glass Frog (Hyalinobatrachium valerioi) from Costa Rica.
3rd Place: Sebastian Di Domenico, Hypsiboas picturatus, Ecuador

Honorable Mentions:
Juan David Fernandez, Dendrobates truncatus, yellow-striped poison frog, Colombia
Sebastian Moreno, Oophaga histrionica, Colombia

 

Winners of the 2016 Backyard Frogs Photo Contest

1st Place: Hannah Sigler, Williamsburg, Iowa, Tree frog
2nd Place: Melville Osborne, late season Gray Tree Frog, Roxbury Township, Morris County, NJ
3rd Place: Nic Crampton, Green-Eyed Tree Frog, Litoria serrata, Queensland, Australia

Honorable Mentions:
Melville Osborne, Gray Tree Frog, New Jersey
Ewelina Zjezdzalka, frog from the Canary Islands

04/27/16

The Bully of All Toads

Currently in Madagascar there is a bully. But, this is not your typical bully. This bully is the Asian toad, also known as Duttaphrynus melanostictus. The toads are threatening rare wildlife and frightening locals.

Madagascar provides a niche-like haven for these primarily lowland dwelling toads. Photo © Arthur Chapman Courtesy of Amphibians.org - Amphibian Survival Alliance.

Madagascar provides a niche-like haven for these primarily lowland dwelling toads. Photo © Arthur Chapman Courtesy of Amphibians.org – Amphibian Survival Alliance.

The theory on how they got to Madagascar is that they hitched a ride in some shipping containers from Asia between 2007 -2010. While Madagascar doesn’t have native toads, people who saw these bullies roaming knew something was wrong. And still no one knows why they have decided to make Madagascar their new home.

These toads are endangering locals, harming snakes, lemurs and exotic animals that are unique to the island. If they feed off these toads they will be poisoned, since these toads are known to be very poisonous. Smaller animals can shrink in size and as species, become extinct.

Asian Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) in Madagascar by Franco Andreone.

Asian Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) in Madagascar by Franco Andreone.

Scientists are still trying to come up with ideas on how to get rid of these toads and such measures wouldn’t be horribly expensive. It would cost about $2 million to $10 million (the effort would need only a wealthy backer from the West) — but that’s really just a guess. No one knows exactly where the toads are or precisely how many are in Madagascar. There’s no easy way to find them, and there’s no quick method of dispatching them, at least not in the numbers necessary for eradication.

And then there’s the fact that no one has tried to remove invasive toads on such a scale before. There have been three successful removal projects, but they were all in much smaller areas.

Asian Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) in Madagascar by Franco Andreone, close up

Asian Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) in Madagascar by Franco Andreone, close up.

So it looks like eradication won’t be possible, the scientists conclude, at least without a lot more research that would let managers and the government overcome many hurdles. And by that time, the toads will probably have become so numerous that, like in Australia, any such efforts would be impossible.

 
Leight-Ann BradyGuest post by Leigh-Ann Brady, who resides in NJ with her 8 year son. She is an artist and writer who is also concerned about the environment.

01/10/16

Winners 2015 Photo Contests

We would like to thank all who entered the 2015 Photo Contests hosted by Frogs Are Green! The photo entries came in from North America, South America, Australia, and Europe. We’d also like to thank this year’s judges: Florence Pape, Bea Rigsby-Kunz, Matt Ellerbeck, Irwin Qagmire Wart, and David Veljacic.
 

Winners of the 2015 Frogs Are Green Photo Contests

Winners: 2015 Backyard Frogs

1st Place: Cosmic Tree Frog in Brazil by Christian Spencer

2nd Place: Backyard friend by Kristin DeAngelis

3rd Place: Red frog in the back garden by Russ Barrow

Honorable Mention: Common Tree Frog by Uwe on Flickr.com

 

Winners: Frogs in the Wild

1st Place: Giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) – French Guiana by Vincent Premel

2nd Place: Dyscophus antongilii, from Antara surroundings – by Franco Andreone

3rd Place: Dendropsophus parviceps from Satipo, Peru by Josh Richards

Honorable Mention: Frog CR – 3 by @nsoste on Flickr


 

12/4/15

Environmentalism: It’s up to YOU to teach the young

It’s December and there are just 11 days left for children to enter the 2015 kids art contest, and all ages to enter the photo contest. As I watch artworks and photos trickle in, I’m wondering (as I did in 2013) why aren’t more people participating? (read >> The Young Environmental Artist)

I see a pattern here. The climate talks are on in Paris, but most are just talkers and not doers. It’s not enough to “like” and share pictures and articles on social media, and not actually do something to show you care.

My own Jersey City made me proud last year with close to 200 students from 17 schools submitting artworks. In addition, we received artworks from 17 states in the US and 32 countries around the world. The total last year was close to 1000 pieces of creative expression. It was marvelous! The winning artworks were celebrated online and in 3 well received exhibitions including an exhibition in Jersey City’s City Hall.

Jersey City is a culturally active area with a large artist community, and yet these same artists, many who have children, aren’t participating either. So, I’m back to wondering why it’s easier for me to reach parents and teachers in other countries and not those in my own area?

I’m asking you now… educators and parents to explain to the young why they should care about wildlife and the environment and I’ll continue to do my part to help amphibians and the environment too.

Please make me proud by entering today!

 

Susan Newman,
Founder, Frogs Are Green, Inc.
A NJ nonprofit organization – “Healthy frogs mean a healthy planet for all.”

Below is one of my favorite entries from 2014.

1st Place Winner, Kardelen Koc, Turkey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest 2014, age 3-6 group

1st Place Winner 2014, Kardelen Koc, Turkey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest 2014, age 3-6 group