Global Amphibian Crisis
There are over 6,000 known species of amphibians in the world; up to half of these species are in threat of extinction during our lifetime. Habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and the rapidly dispersing chytrid fungus are all factors contributing to this significant decline in amphibian populations.

Amphibians are known as "indicator species," serving as an early warning to biologists of environmental changes such as pollution, disease outbreak, or climate change. One such indicator, the chytrid fungus, is spreading rapidly - attacking amphibian's skin and impairing their ability to breathe and drink.
Photos courtesy of Joel Sartore.

To address the Global Amphibian Crisis, AZA is launching the Year of the Frog campaign in 2008, in hopes of encouraging partnering institutions to take significant strides in amphibian conservation.

What Sunset Zoo is Doing

• "Sunset Zoo has pledged ongoing resources to the development of an Ozark Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) breeding unit at the St. Louis zoo. This project is associated with the AZA’s Year of the Frog (2008/2009). The Ozark Hellbender is one amphibian which is a possible candidate for infection by the fungus. Hellbenders are the largest salamanders in the world: the Ozark hellbender can be found in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. The Ozark form grows to over 2 feet in length; its cousins, the Chinese and Japanese giant salamanders, can grow to an enormous five to six feet long. The St. Louis Zoo, working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, has constructed a facility in their Herpetarium to house several small simulated streams - actually trout fish runs - for “larval and juvenile hellbenders and another larger stream for adults … (and) possibly several of our juvenile ‘rack systems’.” Owing to the regional nature of the species, Sunset Zoo staff has “adopted” this project as one to which we anticipate contributing funds on an annual basis. This will give us a “continental U.S.” project and allow us to provide resources to help mitigate the global Amphibian Crisis, support conservation of a regional animal, and raise public awareness of the danger faced by one of our most important class of animals." (Excerpted from an Insider article by Dr. Bob Klemm, Conservation Director at Sunset Zoo.)
• A portion of our 2008 special event proceeds were donated to AZA-sponsored amphibian conservation projects. We are joining with other accredited Zoos and Aquariums for a greater global impact, recognizing that our facility is not yet equipped to become a large-scale "amphibian ark." Learn more about the Amphibian Ark / Year of the Frog.
• In mid 2007, as part of Sunset Zoo's CAP Paraguay partnership, development began on a conservation project for Paraguyan Amphibians in hopes of developing breeding and holding facilities. Learn more about the Paraguay Conservation Action Partnership.
• Among Sunset Zoo educators and docents, the current amphibian crisis remains part of the overall conservation message presented during EdZOOcation programs to multi-generational, regional populations. Read about the top eight things you can do to help amphibians.