Nature’s Witness: Private Moment

"Embracing" frogs—and the challenges they face

Photograph by Robin Moore
PhotoZone
Oct 01, 2019

CAUGHT IN THE ACT, an emerald glass frog grips his mate, holding on to fertilize her eggs as she releases them—a form of mating called amplexus, from the Latin for “embrace.” To spot the pair, biologist-turned-photographer Robin Moore donned a headlamp and walked along streams in Colombia’s Chocó rain forest at night, listening for frog calls, then tracking the sound.

For Moore, the power of the image lies in the winking eyes. “I hope that when someone looks at this image they feel a connection with these incredible animals, and I hope that translates into empathy for the plight of amphibians like these around the world and a desire to protect not only the frogs but the forests they call home.”

The need for such protection is more critical than ever as disease and habitat loss put amphibians at risk. “At a time when we are facing existential threats to our planet, with a million species at risk of extinction, it can feel overwhelming,” says Moore. “Connecting with individual animals on an emotional level is extremely important—and photography has the power to help us do this.”