In Search of Lost Frogs

The Rediscovery and Celebration of these Elusive Amphibians

It took 33 teams of 120 scientists in 21 countries to compile this book of 100 lost frogs of the world. These compelling photographs are a result of conservationist Robin Moore’s fascination with amphibians and reptiles.

‘I realize that not everyone shares that fascination,’ Robin admitted to us. ‘One of our challenges as conservationists is communicating those things that we are passionate about in an accessible and exciting way.’

Queue In Search of Lost Frogs – a visual book of adventure, discovery and rediscovery, conveying the wonder and importance of a remarkable group of animals.

‘My hope is that this will draw people into reading the accompanying stories, so that the reader comes away with a deeper appreciation for amphibians.’

Robin talks discovering new species, cryptic frogs, and the amphibian crisis:

The Plus: What was the most memorable moment of your journey?
Robin Moore: In Colombia we went in search of a lost beaked toad, last seen in 1914. We didn’t find the toad, which was crushingly disappointing, but we did find an entirely new species of beaked toad. In the wake of such disappointment, to make such a thrilling discovery was exhilarating. I won’t forget that feeling.

TP: How many kinds of frogs did you photograph and do you think you got what you wanted?
RM: I have photographed hundreds of species of frogs. I didn’t get everything I wanted – several species eluded me. Frogs can be very cryptic and hard to find. But I also got surprises that made up for the disappointments, so overall I am very happy with what I have been able to find and photograph. You really never what you are going to find.

TP: What message do you want to deliver to the readers?
RM: I want people to come away with an understanding of, and appreciation for, amphibians and why I find them so fascinating. I also want readers to recognize the scale of the crisis currently affecting amphibians – around a half of over 7,000 known species are at risk of extinction. But it’s important to recognize that we should not give up hope.

TP: What are you currently working on?
RM: I am currently working with the Amphibian Survival Alliance to try and build a constituency for amphibian conservation. We have over 100 partners and growing. I am also working on a project called Frame of Mind, to empower youth to connect with their natural and cultural worlds through photography and visual storytelling. The initiative has been a powerful platform for giving a voice to marginalized youth in Haiti.