Amphibians face existential threats from chytridiomycosis and ranavirus. Zoos play a critical role in disease management and conservation breeding, with significant welfare implications for housed animals.
Amphibians in zoo conservation breeding programmes face welfare challenges including captivity stress, disease treatment procedures, and the management of health screening. Chytridiomycosis treatment requires antifungal baths and monitoring that involve repeated handling. Housing conditions must balance disease prevention with welfare - some amphibians show signs of chronic stress in overcrowded or inappropriately maintained enclosures. As conservation breeding programmes are critical for species survival, investment in welfare-optimised husbandry that maximises both health outcomes and individual animal wellbeing is essential.