Like the Panama Canal, the Panamanian Golden Frog is the national emblem of nature and a unique Panama attraction. This frog can be found almost on anything such as lottery tickets, souvenir shirts and Panama tourism brochures. Few of the remaining populations of the endangered Panamanian Golden Frog, Atelopus zeteki can be found at the slopes of the Central Cordilleran rainforest of west-central Panama.

Indigenous Panamanian tribes of the past considered the frog as holy. They crafted different talismans of this frog. Religious tribes even trek the Pacific slope to the Gaital, Caracoral and Pajita mountains to perform a sacred rite yearly. This then evolved into a myth that the Golden Frog will turn into gold upon death. Moreover, you will be blessed with good fortune upon seeing a live Panamanian Golden Frog.

The Panamanian Golden frog is has bright yellow-orange color with black spots. This frog has toxic skin secretions as protection from its enemies. These frogs also eat different kinds of insects.

At this time, the Panamanian golden frog is considered an endangered species. This move to extinction can be first traced to the historic threat of over-collection. Since the natives considered them as holy and they collect them as talismans, these frogs were sold at the local markets. For 40-50 years of illegal over-collection, the frogs' population was slowly being wiped out. While they are an attraction, Panama tourists and locals may one day not be able to enjoy this special creature.

In line with this, as the population of Panama grows, increasing environmental problems are also being faced. New Panama building projects, deforestation and rock mining has stolen the natural habitat of the Panamanian golden frogs.

Also some pesticides being used by farmers to get rid of insects and to fertilize the crops have a big impact with the extinction of these frogs. Frogs use their skin in the same manner that we use our lungs. Since the toxins clogged out the skin, the frogs die.

To make matter worse for the Panamanian golden frogs, a deadly fungus, chytrid has affected Panama. The fungus causes the disease, chytridiomycosis for amphibians. This fungus first arrived in Panama in 1993. Global warming was pointed out as a probable cause for the proliferation of the said fungus. Within four months, 57 out of 70 frogs died including salamander and toad species.

With this, an international effort was put up in 1999 called Project Golden Frog to address this gradual extinction of the national emblem of the culture of Panama. This project aims to get all the existing population of the golden frogs to be return to Panama. The government, some universities and zoos work hand in hand to proactively save these endangered species, which are very important in the culture of Panama. This program will focus on the education, captive breeding and field studies regarding the Panamanian golden frogs.

Hopefully, before the population of the Panamanian golden frogs will be totally wiped out, every citizen and Panamanian tourist alike will do their part to save this much-loved national symbol and attraction of Panama. The efforts to save the frogs will say a lot to the world about Panama.

What is a country that doesn't have a national network of newspapers recording its history, its vibrant past, present, keeping the citizenery informed. I can't think of one and panama is no exception. Panamanian newspapers are historic record keepers of exceptional national value. Panamanian newspapers have an interesting history of there own; a story that needs telling.