THE AMPHIBIAN ARK: A GLOBAL COMMUNITY FOR EX SITU CONSERVATION OF AMPHIBIANS

The Amphibian Ark (AArk) was launched in 2006 to unite and expand the global but disjunct community of amphibian ex situ conservationists. The impetus was to help that community implement the ex situ components of the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP), primarily the rescue and management of those amphibian species that cannot currently be safeguarded in situ. Building a foundation for AArk partners around the world to act, the AArk officers have aimed to: (1) liberate new funds by raising public awareness through the 2008 Year of the Frog campaign; (2) identify conservation actions for species in need (38% of all amphibian species have been assessed to date); (3) train keepers to manage ex situ populations (> 1600 students trained); (4) provide guidelines for best management practices; (5) facilitate the formation of partnerships to sustain rescue programs for their duration; and (6) support other ACAP partners because program success is defined as mitigating in situ threats and, if necessary, reintroducing rescued species as soon as possible. Nearly 100 priority rescue species are already in developing ex situ programs, with over half of these programs initiated since the ACAP. A discussion of AArk activities is preceded by considering a number of essential prerequisite issues that profoundly affect AArk structure and values, including whether ex situ programs are necessary and effective, what challenges and risks they introduce, and what unique resources the ex situ conservation community offers.