A SCOT has is using the power of photography in an attempt to prevent the world's frogs from disappearing.
Robin Moore, who was born and raised in Edinburgh has hunted down and photographed some of the world's 'lost' amphibians in some of the most remote forests in the world to try and prevent the extinction of may species.
His inspiration to help save amphibians was carved out five years ago when 33 teams from 21 countries were dispatched to search for the Lost Frogs identified by Conservation International.
Mr Moore, who was responsible for spearheading the Search for Lost Frogs and coordinating the teams were trying to discoverer whether any of 100 amphibian species believed to be extinct were still alive - but only four of the targeted 100 were found.
The project team announced the rediscovery of three species - the Mexican cave splayfoot salamander - last seen in 1941, the Mount Nimba reed frog from Ivory Coast -last seen in 1967 and the Omaniundu reed frog from Democratic Republic of Congo (1979).
The only addition to the final list was the Rio Pescado stubfoot toad (Atelopus balios), a critically endangered Ecuadorian species that frequents lowland rainforest streams.
It is now feared extinction threatens 40 percent of amphibian species worldwide, and experts say they are vanishing at alarming rates.
The main suspect is a fungal disease found on infected frogs’ skin. Chytridiomycosis, an infection of debated origin, blocks the skin’s semi-permeable pores and eventually leads to cardiac arrest.
The disease both spreads and eradicates rapidly, possessing the ability to drive mass amounts of frogs to extinction.
The 41-year-old award-winning National Geographic photographer's book, In Search of Lost Frogs aims to articulate in words and pictures the amphibian decline, and tells the story of his journey from Colombia to Costa Rica and Israel to India to find lost species.
The founder of Amphibian Survival Alliance and fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers began his fascination amphibians when he scoured peat bogs for frogs and newts when he was younger.
He hopes it is not too late to save some species and hopes that his work will inspire others to help in the vital conservation work.
Now Washington DC based, Mr Moore said: "It all started in the Highlands in Scotland where we used to holiday and I would spend my waking hours finding frogs and newts. I then embarked on a career path studying reptiles and amphibians.
"For me photography was more powerful than the academic papers I had been previously publishing just because it resonsated on a more emotional level to a broader audience. To grab people you have to come up with striking visuals.
"The photos lure people in."
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