Why did the frog cross the road? To get to the other side, of course! World Frog Day on March 20 is your chance to join us and ask all of your burning amphibian questions and more. To celebrate we have invited a panel of experts to speak on all things amphibian. We will learn all about frogs, salamanders, and toads, and why these cool animals actually do cross roads. So let's get together and talk about the amphibian migration season in your area and how you can get involved with an amphibian crossing program or even start a group of your own!

How You Can Join Us

Who: In Defense of Animals and amphibian experts Dr. Kerry Kriger, Brett Amy Thelen, and Doug Wechsler

What: World Frog Day Panel of Amphibian Experts

Where: Zoom Registration Link 

When: Monday, March 20, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT

View the event on Facebook

Meet the Panelists

Doug Wechsler is a children’s book author, photographer, and naturalist. He is a Research Associate at the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University where he has worked for 28 years. He has been a student of amphibians for nearly his entire life. Among his 25 books are The Hidden Life of a Toad, Frog Heaven: Ecology of a Vernal Pool, and a six-book series, The Really Wild Life of Frogs. Doug was one of the original volunteers in the Toad Detour project.

Dr. Kerry Kriger is the Founder and Executive Director of SAVE THE FROGS!, the world’s leading amphibian conservation organization. He conceived Save The Frogs Day, the world’s largest day of amphibian education and conservation action, and has given over 450 presentations on amphibian conservation in more than 20 countries. Dr. Kriger holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Griffith University in Gold Coast, Australia, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia. He is a recognized expert on the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis, a topic on which he has published 20 articles in peer-reviewed international scientific journals. Dr. Kriger’s amphibian conservation efforts have been supported by the National Geographic Society, the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, Patagonia, and various philanthropic organizations throughout the world. Dr. Kriger is also the founder of Nonprofit ICU, through which he provides consulting and mentorship to nonprofit executives.

Brett Amy Thelen is Science Director for the Harris Center for Conservation Education, a regional land trust and environmental education organization based in the Monadnock Region of southwest New Hampshire. She has been coordinating community science programming — including the Harris Center's popular Salamander Crossing Brigade program — since 2007. She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in conservation biology from Antioch University New England, and a bachelor’s degree in Literary & Cultural Studies from the College of William and Mary.

Lisa Levinson is the Campaigns Director for In Defense of Animals, founder of Vegan Spirituality, and co-founder of the Interfaith Vegan Coalition. She started the Toad Detour in 2008 to help migrating toads cross a busy road in Philadelphia. The Detour grew to over 200 eager volunteers with popular Toad Walks and was the subject of a documentary and a children’s book. The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education adopted the Toad Detour in 2012 and it’s still going strong!