Amphibian ArkKeeping threatened amphibian species afloat

Are they really in trouble?

• 5,743 species of amphibians

– 43% in decline (2469 spp.)– 32% threatened (1856 spp.)– 120+ extinct since 1980– 23% data deficient (1294 spp)

• probably endangered• Worse than birds (12%) or

mammals (23%)

Beginnings of a mass extinction

• Nearly one-third (32%) of the world’s amphibian species - representing 1,856 species - are threatened with extinction.

• Up to 122 species may have gone extinct since 1980.

• At least 43% of all species are declining in population size.

• Habitat Loss and Degradation

• Climate Change

• Chemical Contamination

• Infectious Disease

• Invasive Species

• Over-Harvesting

Complex Causes

1987-88

20042002-03

1996-97

1993-94

~28 km/yr

The Mandates• 2005 IUCN ACAP White Papers:

– “Survival assurance colonies are mandatory for amphibian species that will not persist in the wild long enough to recover naturally once environments are restored; these species need to be saved now through ex-situ measures so that more complete restoration of ecosystems is possible in the future”

• 2005 IUCN ACAP Declaration:

– “The ACAP recommends prioritized ... captive survival assurance programs ... to buy time for species that would otherwise become extinct...”

• 2006 IUCN ACAP Report:

– “The only hope for populations and species at immediate risk of extinction is immediate rescue for the establishment and management of captive survival-assurance colonies”

Making the Mandate Tangible

To save from immediate extinction every species that needs ex situ conservation, ...

• … each zoo must commit to secure the future for one amphibian species.

• ~500 zoos working individually and together = ~500 species saved

Do we have the resources?

• If each visitor contributes just 2 cents for amphibian conservation, then we will have all the funds that we need.

• If each zoo would devote to amphibians the resources that are devoted to the care of one high-profile, big mammal species in your collection, then we will have all the resources that we need.

We do have (or can have) the needed financial resources!

• Direct allocation from existing conservation or collection budgets

• Special fund-raising, individually and collectively

We do have (or can have) the needed financial resources!

• Direct allocation from existing conservation or collection budgets

• Special fund-raising, individually and collectively

But the rest of the task will be challenging!

Challenges: We need more …

• Facilities

• Expertise

• Knowledge

• Techniques and standards

• Communication and coordination

• Partnerships

• Public awareness, support, and action

Challenges: We need more …

• Facilities

• Expertise

• Knowledge

• Techniques and standards

• Communication and coordination

• Partnerships

• Public awareness, support, and action

Help is on the way!

WAZA and CBSG are together taking responsibility for helping to coordinate the global amphibian ex situ conservation response

WAZA and CBSG are together taking responsibility for helping to coordinate the global amphibian ex situ conservation response

Working in close partnership with the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group

What is the Amphibian Ark?• AArk is a joint effort of WAZA, CBSG, and ASG

formed to address the ex situ components of the ACAP.• The mission is to ensure long-term survival in nature

utilizing short-term ex situ management of amphibian taxa for which adequate protection in the wild is not currently possible.

• AArk will coordinate ex situ programs implemented by global partners (i.e., you!).

• Members of the AArk will be members of WAZA, regional, or national zoo associations, AArk-approved private partners and AArk-approved museums, universities and wildlife agencies.

Steering CommitteeCo-chairs: WAZA, CBSG, ASG

Taxon Management GroupsTaxon Rescue Plans

WAZA membersand affiliates

private sector partners

Other approved ex situ facilities (e.g. universities,

wildlife agencies)

Regional Zoo & Aquarium

Association members

Training Officer Communications OfficerTaxon Officer

Advisors: Reintro, Vet, Gene Banking, Legal,

Ethical, etc.

Other Officers: Regional, Institutional

WAZA CBSG ASG

IUCN SSC

ResearchConservation Assessment

In situ

Amphibian Program Officer

Other members: Regional Zoo Assocs, Private, Academia, Government

Amphibian Ark

ASG Conservation Officer

Kevin Zippel CBSG/ WAZA Amphibian Program Officer

Don Church, CI Conservation Officer

GLOBAL COORDINATION

Joe Mendelson, ASG ExOfficer

Robin Moore

Support for local implementation

• Taxon Management (Rescue) Officer

• Training Officer

• Communications Officer

and …

• Regional Association coordinators

• other positions as needed to support you

and …

• lots of dedicated volunteer experts and friends

What Can My Zoo Do?• Commit to saving at least one species

– build rescue center onsite, in area in need, preferably both

– get your staff trained and involved

• Support and expand existing efforts– rescue programs, field surveys, regional programs, and

local conservation projects

• Participate in the global public awareness and capital campaigns

Building expertise

• AZA Amphibian Biology & Management– 3 years, >60 students– 6 Latin American students (Panama, Colombia, Mexico,

Ecuador)

• ABM Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Tanzania, …

• DWCT Amphibian Biodiversity Conservation

Building (up) facilities at home

• Antwerp, Atlanta, Auckland, Bristol, Cologne, Detroit, Houston, London, Melbourne, Omaha, Perth, San Antonio, Toledo

• who’s next?

Building facilities offsite

• Houston Zoo - El Nispero Zoo (Panama)• Zoo Zurich - Cali Zoo (Colombia)• St. Louis Zoo - Catolica University (Ecuador)• Omaha Zoo - Johannesburg Zoo • London/Chester/Jersey Zoos - Dominica• Chester - standardized mobile

biosecure facilities

• who’s next?

The P. Center

•consortium of zoos

•18 institutions pledged

•$82/150K for operation

•100% construction (~$650K)

•50% operation (~$150k/yr)

•ex situ management, training, research

Financial Cost

• for the ‘average’ zoo (assumes 500 zoos)– save 1 species– $55,000 in year 1

• Secure the AArk for a 10-year voyage

• build your programs at home and abroad

– $35,000/year thereafter

• prevent the extinction of 500 species

Financial Cost

• for the ‘average’ zoo (assumes 500 zoos)– save 1 species– $55,000 in year 1

• Secure the AArk for a 10-year voyage

• build your programs at home and abroad

– $35,000/year thereafter

• prevent the extinction of 500 species

• Cheapest conservation you can buy!

Campaigns

• Participate in a global public awareness campaign – 2008: Year of the Frog– websites, graphics, education materials, media releases– Do your visitors know we are experiencing the greatest

species conservation challenge in the history of humanity?

• Participate in the global capital campaign

– to support your own programs– to support the global coordination through AArk

Multi-level approach

• Big corporate or foundation sponsors– of global coordination and capacity building– of your local efforts

• Association-level campaigns and commitments and leadership

• Institution-level fund-raising, big and small

• Support from your institutions – to the globally coordinated efforts– for your programs

You are responding!

• Houston – spearheading El Valle project• Atlanta – partnering with ABG to rescue

species• many – expanding capacity to save

Panamanian species• Omaha – building propagation facilities and

assisting Johannesburg• St Louis – assisting Catolica Univ in Quito• Toledo and WCS – breeding the last Kihansi

spray toads

You are responding!

• SeaWorld/AB – sponsoring training and national strategy workshops

• Brookfield – sponsoring the Amphibian PO• Toledo – Wishing wells in shopping mall• Columbus, Binder Park, Kansas City, Living

Desert, Denver, San Francisco, Sedgwick, Rosamond Gifford, Cameron Park, Disney, Toronto, New Mexico BioPark, WCS, New England, Birmingham, and many others who have provided the critical funding to coordinate and facilitate the intiative

Don’t miss the boat!

• Propagation facilities (home and elsewhere)• Training (own staff and others)• Communicating• Sponsoring• Supporting core functions that support you• Research, field surveys• Partnering …

• Join the crowd!

Imagine …

• AZA members, working collectively will– Save all of North America’s frogs and salamanders

that are threatened with extinction– Build the capacity and support the programs to

help save the equally incredible diversity of our neighbor countries in Latin America

– Be the most active and essential “keystone” partner in a global conservation movement

– Stop the extinction of 100s of species!