AdoptAPond

Why Are Amphibian Populations Declining

What is being done to help Amphibians

Canada Species At Risk

Responding to an Amphibian Extinction Crisis

For many years, staff at Toronto Zoo has contributed to the recovery of endangered amphibians. This is in part due to our success in breeding many amphibian species and developing educational resources for community involvement in backyard conservation. In fact, the Adopt-A-Pond programme was initiated by zoo staff to protect and restore wetland habitats in response to 1989 reports of amphibian declines. Unfortunately, amphibians face ongoing threats.

We are now witnessing a crisis that is decimating a whole vertebrate class. The causes of decline are not well understood, nor easily reversible, nor immediately preventable.

Recent extinctions and extirpations have occurred around the world, including those in Canada. Many amphibian extinctions are not random. Since 1989, researchers have documented and monitored unexplained and strange amphibian declines in Australia and disappearances in Central America progressing from the north to south at a rate of 30 km per year. The primary cause of recent population declines appears to be chytridiomycosis, a dangerous fungal infection commonly referred to as chytrid.

A recent IUCN/SSC Amphibian Conservation Summit attended by Toronto Zoo's Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles, developed an Amphibian Conservation Action Plan that called for emergency conservation centres for ex situ assurance colonies within the natural ranges of affected populations. While there is a global response to declining amphibian populations, the zoo community has proposed the development of a global network of captive breeding programmes that are linked to conservation within countries where amphibian declines are occurring or predicted to occur. These centres will also provide opportunities for zoos to support and train those who live with the frogs.

Puerto Rican Crested Toads breed in ephemeral pools, often in large puddles formed after rain © Bob Johnson"

Puerto Rican Crested Toads have a distinct appearance: rough skin typical of toads and a relatively large upturned snout © Bob Johnson

Because of our success in amphibian reproduction at the Toronto Zoo and experience with over 20 years of pond construction and reintroduction of zoo bred tadpoles in Puerto Rico, we will be receiving captive bred rescue frogs from Central America in 2006. It is sad indeed to think that the frogs we will receive have already become extinct in the wild, the result of an emerging disease we seem unable to stop. Please come visit these frogs when they have cleared their zoo quarantine. Your ongoing support of Toronto Zoo's conservation, education and recovery programmes is never more needed than now.

Turtle Island Conservation