Kevin Zippel
Program Director
Kevin received his B.S. in 1994 from Cornell University, and his Ph.D. in 2000 from the University of Florida. He spent one year (1999) as a curatorial intern in the Department of Herpetology at the Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo while he finished his doctorate. There he was also a founding member of Project Golden Frog, a conservation organization he continues to serve as coordinator. Kevin then went on to work five years as Curator of Amphibians at the Detroit Zoo. With Herp Curator Andy Snider, Kevin oversaw the construction and initial years of operation of the National Amphibian Conservation Center. During his years in Detroit he developed adjunct associate professor status at Michigan State University and George Mason University.
In 2005, Kevin joined the IUCN’s Conservation Breeding Specialist Group to help develop the Amphibian Ark.
Select Publications:
Zippel, K. 2010. Climate change and amphibians. Animal Keepers’ Forum 37:537-541.
Browne R.K., J.R. Mendelson, G. McGregor Reid, R. Alford, K. Zippel, and J.M.M. Pereboom. 2009. Amphibian Conservation Research Guide (1st Ed.). Amphibian Ark. http://portal.isis.org/partners/AARK/ResearchGuide/ACRG/Amphibian%20Conservation%20Research%20Guide.pdf
Mendelson, J.R. III, J.B. Pramuk, R. Gagliardo, A. Pessier, B.B. Rothermel, K.C. Zippel, C. Bevier, M. Preest, and B. Crother. 2009. Considerations and recommendations for raising live amphibians in classrooms. SSAR document http://www.ssarherps.org/documents/amphibians_in_classroom.pdf.
Gagliardo, R., P. Crump, E. Griffith, J. Mendelson, H. Ross, and K. Zippel. 2008. The principles of rapid response for amphibian conservation, using the programmes in Panama as an example. International Zoo Yearbook 42:125-135.
Hoffman, M., D. Church, J.P. Collins, N. Cox, C. Gascon, J. Mendelson, R.D. Moore, S.N. Stuart, and K. Zippel. 2008. Amphibian conservation – responding to the global decline of amphibians. Pp.114-124 in S.N. Stuart, M. Hoffman, J.S. Chanson, N.A. Cox, R.J. Berridge, P. Ramani, and B.E. Young (eds.) Threatened Amphibians of the World. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
Odum, R.A., and K.C. Zippel. 2008. Water quality. International Zoo Yearbook 42:40-52.
Pavajeau, L., K.C. Zippel, R. Gibson, and K.Johnson. 2008. Amphibian Ark and the 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign. International Zoo Yearbook 42:24–29.
Reid, G.M., and K.C. Zippel. 2008. Can zoos and aquariums ensure the survival of amphibians in the 21st century? International Zoo Yearbook 42:
Zippel, K.C. and J.R. Mendelson III. 2008. The amphibian extinction crisis: a call to action. Herpetologicl Review 39:23-29.
Zippel, K.C. and C. Tabaka. 2008. Amphibian chytridiomycosis in captive Acris crepitans blanchardi (Blanchard’s Cricket Frog) collected from Ohio, Missouri, and Michigan, USA. Herpetological Review 39:192-193.
Zippel, K., K. Buley, R. Gibson, G.R. Gillespie, R. Johnson, R.C. Lacy, G. Marantelli, and J.R. Mendelson III. 2008. On the role of ex situ management in the conservation of amphibians. Pp.128-129 in S.N. Stuart, M. Hoffman, J.S. Chanson, N.A. Cox, R.J. Berridge, P. Ramani, and B.E. Young (eds.) Threatened Amphibians of the World. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
Browne, R.K., R.A. Odum, T. Herman, and K.C. Zippel. 2007. Facility design and associated services for the study of amphibians. ILAR Journal 48:188-202.
Browne, R.K. and K.C. Zippel. 2007. Reproduction and larval rearing of amphibians. ILAR Journal 48:214-234.
Zippel, K.C. 2007. Why do we need an Amphibian Ark? An ActionBioscience.org original article: http://www.actionbioscience.org/biodiversity/zippel.html
Zippel, K.C., R. Ibáñez D., E.D. Lindquist, C.L. Richards, C.A. Jaramillo A., and E.J. Griffith. 2007 (“2006”). Implicaciones en la conservación de las ranas doradas de Panamá, asociadas con su revisión taxonómica. Herpetotropicos 3:29-39.
Lee, S., K. Zippel, L. Ramos, and J. Searle. 2006. Captive-breeding programme for the Kihansi spray toad Nectophrynoides asperginis at the Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York. International Zoo Yearbook 40:241-253.
Mendelson III, J.R., and 49 other authors. 2006. Confronting amphibian declines and extinctions. Science 313:48.
Zippel, K.C. 2006. Further observations of oviposition in the Surinam toad (Pipa pipa), with comments on biology, misconceptions, and husbandry. Herpetological Review 37:60-68.
Zippel, K., R. Lacy, and O. Byers (eds.). 2006. CBSG/WAZA Amphibian Ex Situ Conservation Planning Workshop Final Report. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA. http://www.amphibianark.org/Ex_Situ_Planning_Workshop_Report.pdf
Rickard, A., E. Sonntag and K. Zippel. 2004. Amphibian conservation strategies: Translocating an entire population of Blanchard’s Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi) in southeast Michigan. The Endangered Species UPDATE 21:128-131.
Zippel, K.C. 2004. Zoos play a vital role in amphibian conservation. AmphibiaWeb online www.amphibiaweb.org/aw/declines/zoo/index.html
Zippel, K.C. 2002. Conserving the Panamanian Golden Frog: Proyecto Rana Dorada. Herpetological Review 33:11-12.
