Amphibians face the worst extinction crisis of any vertebrate group. Zoos are playing a growing role in ex situ conservation — with welfare implications.
Zoo amphibian conservation programs are among the most genuinely valuable conservation activities undertaken by modern zoos, yet amphibian welfare receives much less research attention than that of mammals or birds. The conditions that amphibians require for welfare — appropriate humidity, temperature gradients, hiding places, appropriate prey, and absence of pathogens — are reasonably well understood for many species but are not uniformly provided. Social needs vary greatly by species. Captive amphibians that appear inactive may be healthy or may be chronically stressed — distinguishing these states requires species-specific behavioral research that is often lacking.