in a recently released report, the World Wide Fund for Nature (wwf) says golden toads are disappearing in Costa Rica due to change in natural habitat induced by global warming.

The extinction of this particular species is one of the global trends that have sent populations into decline for many freshwater species, wwf points out in the report released in Belgium. Frogs, alligators, flamingos and river dolphins are all threatened by climate change, pollution and heavy fishing.

"The report is a graphic call to reduce these negative trends,' said wwf director-general Claude Martin. "The observed declines in populations of freshwater species is particularly alarming as they indicate the extent of deterioration in the quality of the world's rivers, lakes and other wetlands.'