AArk Conservation Grant Winners

Seed Grant report - Conservation grant winnersAmphibian Ark is pleased to announce the past recipients of our Conservation Grant program. This $5,000 competitive grant is designed to fund small start-up projects that are in need of seed money in order to build successful long-term programs that attract larger funding. We also provide grants for scholarships to support workshop attendance, multi-year program grants, and ex situ research projects to benefit threatened amphibians.

We would like to acknowledge the generous support of the following individuals and organizations for establishing and supporting these grants: The Wildlife Conservation Society, the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, Anne Baker and Robert Lacy, Chester Zoo, Ronna Erickson, Josie Lowman, Woodland Park Zoo, the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Naples Zoo, Florida.

In November 2013 we produced a report which includes updates from each of the seed grant recipients on the progress of their projects. Low resolution (8.8 MB) and high resolution (33.5 MB) versions of the report are available.

2023

Towards the return of the Patagonia frog (Atelognathus patagonicus) to Laguna Blanca, Argentina
Executive Summary

Ex situ rescue of the Rancho Grande Harlequin Frog (Atelopus cruciger) in Venezuela (Extension)
Executive Summary  Species Action Plan

2022

Ex situ rescue of the Rancho Grande Harlequin Frog (Atelopus cruciger) in Venezuela
Executive Summary

Establishment of insurance population for Pithecopus rusticus
Executive Summary

Establishing captive breeding and husbandry protocols for Atelopus hoogmoedi, an analog species of the threatened Manauense harlequin toad (A. manauensis) in Brazil
Executive Summary

First ex situ management actions for the conservation of Ceratophrys ornata in Argentina
Executive Summary

Towards the conservation of the Darwin’s blackish toad (Melanophryniscus nigricans)
Executive Summary

Continuing captive breeding efforts for La Culata frog (Aromobates duranti) and the Mucuchíes frog (A. zippeli)
Executive Summary    La Culata frog Action Plan    Mucuchíes frog Action Plan

Centro de Conservación de Anfibios Amaru and Detroit Zoo Mentorship Grant
Executive Summary

Conservation of Melanophryniscus estebani: An endemic, poorly known species from Chaco Serrano (Argentina)
Executive Summary

2021

Establishing an ex situ conservation strategy for Paradactylodon persicus gorganensis in Iran
Executive Summary

The Junin Amphibian Conservation Center
Executive Summary

2020

Ex situ conservation of the critically endangered Togo Slippery Frog (Conraua derooi) in Ghana
Executive Summary

Developing ex situ facilities for the conservation of the Indian caecilian Gegeneophis tejaswini
Executive Summary

Rescuing the southernmost marsupial frog species (Gastrotheca gracilis) in Argentina (start-up grant extension)
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

Capacity-building of Uganda’s in-country ex situ husbandry and captive amphibian breeding expertise (Mentorship Grant)
Executive Summary

2019 

Using radio-telemetry to track survival and disease outcomes in the Mountain-Yellow-legged Frog (Rana muscosa) to inform ex situ management
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

Project Palaka, Phase II – Platymantis insulatus ex situ program
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

First steps towards the conservation of the Darwin’s Blackish Toad (Melanophryniscus nigricans)
Executive Summary

Start-up grant for the Lake Patzcuaro Salamander (Ambystoma dumerilii)
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

2018
Rescuing the southernmost Marsupial Frog species (Gastrotheca gracilis) in Argentina
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

The return of the Patagonia Frog to Laguna Blanca
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

Fighting back extinction risk: a conservation program for the Venezuelan Andean frog
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

Head-starting Pool Frogs for the UK reintroduction (start-up extension grant)
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

2017
Reintroduction of the Northern Pool Frog to the UK
Species Action Plan

Guanajuato Program for the rescue of the Big-footed Leopard Frog (Lithobates megapoda)

An ex situ conservation program for the Zippel’s Frog (Aromobates zippeli)
Species Action Plan

Saving the giant frogs of Peru, Lake Junín Frog (Telmatobius macrostomus)

2016
Ex situ conservation project for the Lake Patzcuaro Salamander (Ambystoma dumerilii) – Chapultepec Zoo, Mexico City, Mexico

Establishment of the ex situ supporting program for vanished frog species that reappeared in Costa Rica: taking as model Lithobates vibicarius from Juan Castro Blanco National Park – University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica

An ex situ initiative to rescue Merida’s Whistling Frog, an endangered undescribed Leptodactylus species – Venezuelan Andean Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Center, Venezuela
Species Action Plan

Aromobates meridensis, an endangered Venezuelan frog in need of conservation efforts – University of Los Andes at Merida, Venezuela
Species Action Plan

2015
Rescuing the endangered Merida’s Collared Frog – University of Los Andes at Merida, Venezuela

Establishing a breeding laboratory specializing in Pristimantis species – Fundación Zoológico Santacruz, Colombia

Saving endangered frogs from Cordillera del Condor, Ecuador – Amphibian Conservation Center–Zoo Amaru

2014
Developing a captive breeding facility at Parc Ivoloina – Parc Ivoloina, Toamasina, Madagascar

Construction of a breeding room at Centre Valbio for endangered frogs from Ranomafana National Park in south-east Madagascar – Centre Valbio, Ranomafana, Madagascar

The first amphibian rescue center in Argentina: An ex situ conservation program for Telmatobius pisanoi and T. stephani – Buenos Aires, Argentina

2013
Ex situ conservation program for the Ecuadorian Tiger Frog – Gustavo Orcés Herpetological Foundation, Quito, Ecuador

Ex situ methodology building for Neotropical caudates – Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center, Guayacan de Siquirres, Costa Rica

Ex situ management of Centrolene buckleyi in Ecuador – Centro Jambatu, San Rafael, Quito, Ecuador

Ex situ reproduction and in situ conservation of Alsodes vanzolinii – Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Chile

2012
Honduran Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center – Honduran Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center, Tela, Honduras

Conservation Plan for Eleutherodactylus portoricensis – University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, Puerto Rico

2011
Conservation of Scinax alcatraz – Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

2010
Conservation of the Cuban Long-nosed Toad – Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Cuba, Habana Vieja, Cuba

Frogs and toads from south-eastern Colombia – Jonh Jairo Mueses-Cisneros, Nariño, Colombia

Bolivian Amphibian Initiative – Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d’Orbigny, Cochabamba, Bolivia

Maude Island Frog Habitat – Orana Wildlife Park, Christchurch, New Zealand

2009
Establishing a captive breeding facility for Malagasy Amphibians – Association Mitsinjo, Andasibe, Madagascar

Executive Summary

Conservation of Melanophryniscus estebani: An endemic, poorly known species from Chaco Serrano (Argentina)

Executive Summary

2021

Establishing an ex situ conservation strategy for Paradactylodon persicus gorganensis in Iran
Executive Summary

The Junin Amphibian Conservation Center
Executive Summary

2020

Ex situ conservation of the critically endangered Togo Slippery Frog (Conraua derooi) in Ghana
Executive Summary

Developing ex situ facilities for the conservation of the Indian caecilian Gegeneophis tejaswini
Executive Summary

Rescuing the southernmost marsupial frog species (Gastrotheca gracilis) in Argentina (start-up grant extension)
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

Capacity-building of Uganda’s in-country ex situ husbandry and captive amphibian breeding expertise (Mentorship Grant)
Executive Summary

2019 

Using radio-telemetry to track survival and disease outcomes in the Mountain-Yellow-legged Frog (Rana muscosa) to inform ex situ management
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

Project Palaka, Phase II – Platymantis insulatus ex situ program
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

First steps towards the conservation of the Darwin’s Blackish Toad (Melanophryniscus nigricans)
Executive Summary

Start-up grant for the Lake Patzcuaro Salamander (Ambystoma dumerilii)
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

2018
Rescuing the southernmost Marsupial Frog species (Gastrotheca gracilis) in Argentina
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

The return of the Patagonia Frog to Laguna Blanca
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

Fighting back extinction risk: a conservation program for the Venezuelan Andean frog
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

Head-starting Pool Frogs for the UK reintroduction (start-up extension grant)
Executive Summary    Species Action Plan

2017
Reintroduction of the Northern Pool Frog to the UK
Species Action Plan

Guanajuato Program for the rescue of the Big-footed Leopard Frog (Lithobates megapoda)

An ex situ conservation program for the Zippel’s Frog (Aromobates zippeli)
Species Action Plan

Saving the giant frogs of Peru, Lake Junín Frog (Telmatobius macrostomus)

2016
Ex situ conservation project for the Lake Patzcuaro Salamander (Ambystoma dumerilii) – Chapultepec Zoo, Mexico City, Mexico

Establishment of the ex situ supporting program for vanished frog species that reappeared in Costa Rica: taking as model Lithobates vibicarius from Juan Castro Blanco National Park – University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica

An ex situ initiative to rescue Merida’s Whistling Frog, an endangered undescribed Leptodactylus species – Venezuelan Andean Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Center, Venezuela
Species Action Plan

Aromobates meridensis, an endangered Venezuelan frog in need of conservation efforts – University of Los Andes at Merida, Venezuela
Species Action Plan

2015
Rescuing the endangered Merida’s Collared Frog – University of Los Andes at Merida, Venezuela

Establishing a breeding laboratory specializing in Pristimantis species – Fundación Zoológico Santacruz, Colombia

Saving endangered frogs from Cordillera del Condor, Ecuador – Amphibian Conservation Center–Zoo Amaru

2014
Developing a captive breeding facility at Parc Ivoloina – Parc Ivoloina, Toamasina, Madagascar

Construction of a breeding room at Centre Valbio for endangered frogs from Ranomafana National Park in south-east Madagascar – Centre Valbio, Ranomafana, Madagascar

The first amphibian rescue center in Argentina: An ex situ conservation program for Telmatobius pisanoi and T. stephani – Buenos Aires, Argentina

2013
Ex situ conservation program for the Ecuadorian Tiger Frog – Gustavo Orcés Herpetological Foundation, Quito, Ecuador

Ex situ methodology building for Neotropical caudates – Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center, Guayacan de Siquirres, Costa Rica

Ex situ management of Centrolene buckleyi in Ecuador – Centro Jambatu, San Rafael, Quito, Ecuador

Ex situ reproduction and in situ conservation of Alsodes vanzolinii – Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Chile

2012
Honduran Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center – Honduran Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center, Tela, Honduras

Conservation Plan for Eleutherodactylus portoricensis – University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, Puerto Rico

2011
Conservation of Scinax alcatraz – Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

2010
Conservation of the Cuban Long-nosed Toad – Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Cuba, Habana Vieja, Cuba

Frogs and toads from south-eastern Colombia – Jonh Jairo Mueses-Cisneros, Nariño, Colombia

Bolivian Amphibian Initiative – Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d’Orbigny, Cochabamba, Bolivia

Maude Island Frog Habitat – Orana Wildlife Park, Christchurch, New Zealand

2009
Establishing a captive breeding facility for Malagasy Amphibians – Association Mitsinjo, Andasibe, Madagascar