Salamanders and newts face extinction from Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, a newly emerged pathogen spreading through the international amphibian trade.
Salamanders dying from Bsal experience skin disease causing osmoregulatory failure over days to weeks — a prolonged welfare harm paralleling chytridiomycosis in frogs. Fire salamanders in affected European populations have experienced mass mortality events. Preventing spread through trade restrictions is the most important welfare and conservation intervention available. Captive assurance colonies provide welfare trade-offs but prevent extinction of affected species.