Amphibians and reptiles face "mounting extinction crisis"

Edinburgh, July 7 (ANI): A charity has determined that a "mounting extinction crisis" is facing frogs, toads, newts, snakes and lizards across the UK and Europe.

According to a report in The Scotsman, the charity in question is Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, which has been formed from the merger of The Froglife Trust and The Herpetological Conservation Trust.

The charity said that there were many major threats to reptiles and amphibians. These included habitat loss, pollution, non-native diseases, climate change and the isolation of populations by roads and other infrastructure.

More than half (59 per cent) of all European amphibians and 42 per cent of all reptile species are disappearing, according to a International Union for Conservation of Nature study, funded by the European Commission, published in May.

Of the UK's 13 species of amphibians and reptiles, ten are listed on the government's biodiversity action plan watchlist because of their risk of extinction. (ANI)