Tell Us About Your Amphibians

(Photo Credit: Wikimedia)

Globally, amphibians are seeing population declines. As many as half of all amphibian species worldwide are facing the threat of extinction. Causes for these declines include: habitat destruction and degradation, climate change, and disease. Since amphibians as a whole are considered ‘indicator species’ for ecosystems- the proverbial ‘canary in the coal mine’ that tells biologists that something is seriously wrong with a habitat- declining amphibians could be the harbinger of very serious problems with our world’s ecosystems.

For many years now, zoos and aquariums have been on the front lines of trying to save both amphibians and their much-needed habitats. They have developed captive breeding programs for a number of species, both for the purpose of developing a captive amphibian ‘ark’ and for release of captive bred animals. Some of these captive breeding programs have required years of research and development in the area of husbandry for captive amphibians. Learning how to reliably breed these animals in captivity will help to ensure their survival in the future. For example, the Toronto Zoo has been working with the critically endangered Puerto Rican Crested Toad (Bufo lemur) since 1985, has developed world-renowned husbandry procedures with the species, and has released over 125,000 tadpoles back into their natural habitat. This is just one example of many species being helped by zoos and aquariums.

Many zoos and aquariums have also become involved in fieldwork with amphibians, working with local citizens to restore and recover habitat, as well as develop captive breeding programs closer to home. This kind of outreach can have major impacts on wild amphibian populations, as humans learn how to live more sustainably alongside these threatened animals.

If you want to learn more about how you can help amphibians, visit a zoo or aquarium with an active amphibian program. There are many zoos, such as the Jacksonville Zoo, which allow you to see into their amphibian breeding facility and laboratory. There you can see first hand all of the hard work that goes into keeping these animals alive for the future. Protecting amphibians for the future is an immense task, and few places other than zoos and aquariums are up to the challenge.