Amphibians are experiencing the most severe extinction crisis of any vertebrate group. Zoo conservation breeding programmes play a critical role but must balance welfare with conservation urgency.
Amphibian conservation breeding creates a genuine welfare-conservation tension. The urgency of preventing extinction justifies maintaining species in captivity even when captive conditions cannot fully replicate wild environments. However, welfare in amphibian collections must not be treated as secondary to genetic management objectives. Adequate UV-B provision, appropriate temperature gradients, humidity management, and species-specific social requirements are welfare necessities that also support breeding success. The best conservation breeding programmes integrate welfare optimisation as essential to their conservation mission.