Which Species Are On The 'Ark"? | Ocean Wise Lecture
243 views · Published 29 August 2018 · 37:47 · Indexed 4 November 2026
Channel: Vancouver Aquarium · 2018 · Pets & Animals
The Devastating Decline in Amphibian Numbers & What Zoos and Aquariums are Doing Amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, face serious threats including habitat loss, pollution, and disease. The threats are so extreme that at least one third of amphibians are threatened with extinction. In 2007, the Amphibian Ark organization was formed to coordinate efforts to save amphibian species with a low chance of surviving in the wild. The last chance for some species is the establishment of captive populations in zoos and aquariums. But what amphibian species are in these institutions and are they the ones with the greatest conservation need? In this talk, Alannah Biega examines the role that zoos and aquariums are playing in the conservation of this important group of animals. From researching the efforts of institutions worldwide (including a salamander breeding program run by a Mexican nunnery) to presenting her work at one of the oldest zoos in the world, Alannah shares her insight into the novel efforts to save species at the brink of extinction.
