Ex situ Program Authorization/Availability of animals
1. Mandate *
Is there an existing conservation mandate recommending
the ex situ conservation of this taxon?
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 2. If the answer is No , there
is insufficient authorisation for an ex situ
initiative at this time. You should seek mandate from ASG/AArk or
other authority.
Select
Yes
No
2. Range state
approval *
Is the proposed ex situ initiative supported by
the range State (either within the range State or
out-of-country ex situ )?
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 3. If the answer is No , there
is insufficient authorisation for an ex situ
initiative at this time. You should seek approval from range
country (with help from AArk/ASG as required) before
proceeding.
Select
Yes
No
3. Founder specimens
*
Are sufficient animals of the taxon available or
potentially available (from wild or captive sources) to
initiate the specified ex situ program? AArk
recommends that a minimum of twenty pairs of animals
be collected as founder animals .
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 4. If the answer is No , there
are insufficient potential founder specimens to initiate
the ex situ program. You should evaluate options for
alternative conservation strategy including gamete
cryopreservation.
Select
Yes
No
Unknown
4. Phylogenetic study
*
Has a complete phylogenetic analysis of the species in
the wild been carried out, to gain the required
knowledge of the species, and the animals being
considered for collection?
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 5. If the answer is No , there
is insufficient knowledge of the species, and a
phylogenetic study should be undertaken before
considering an ex situ program for the species.
You should undertake appropriate research in conjunction with local
field biologists (with help from AArk/ASG as required)
in order to confirm that the specific program
encompasses only one Evolutionary Distinct Unit (ESU)
before proceeding.
Select
Yes
No
Program Stability
5. Comprehensive plan
*
Too often ex situ programs rest on the shoulders
of one facility or institution. Is there a written plan
in place detailing the goals of the program, listing all
partners and including an exit strategy for the program?
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 6. If the answer is No , there
is insufficient planning. You should seek assistance from ASG/AArk
or other authority to develop a clear plan.
Select
Yes
No
6.
Financial security *
Is there sufficient financial support for the
anticipated life of the ex situ initiative? Or is
there good reason to believe that further financial
support is realistically achievable? Many programs run
for five, ten, or even more years, and sufficient
financial resources to support the program for the whole
of this time must be available if the program is to be
successful.
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 7. If the answer is No , there are
inadequate resources. You should explore possibilities for
financial support before initiating program (with help
from AArk as appropriate).
Select
Yes
No
7. Organisational and
political security *
Is the stability of the institution/region/State etc.
sufficient to ensure a continued commitment to the ex
situ program over its anticipated lifespan?
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 8. If the answer is No , there is
insufficient stability. You should consider alternative
location/institutions and partnerships.
Select
Yes
No
Taxon knowledge
8.
Background ex situ species knowledge
Is there a
history of keeping and breeding this taxon successfully
in captivity?
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 11. If the answer is No , go to question
9.
Select
Yes
No
9.
Background in situ species knowledge
Is there
sufficient understanding of the ecology, behaviour and
reproductive mode of the taxon to infer the likely ex
situ requirements?
If the
answer is Yes , go to question 11. If the answer
is No , go to question 10.
Select
Yes
No
10.
Analogous species *
Despite a lack of direct knowledge of
the ex situ requirements of the target taxon, can
they be inferred with a reasonable degree of confidence
from similar/related taxa?
If the
answer is Yes , go to question 11. If the answer
is No , there is insufficient knowledge of the
taxon and its requirements at this time. Your ex situ
program should be delayed, where possible, while
relevant experience/information is gathered – e.g. by
working with analogue species.
Select
Yes
No
Accommodation
11.
Current facilities
Is the appropriate quality and
quantity of facilities (in country or out of country)
currently available? Not just for founder animals, but
also for captive bred offspring of all life-stages/sizes
(consider space; heating & cooling; water supply,
quality, treatment & disposal; lighting; ventilation
etc).
If the
answer is Yes , go to question 13. If the answer
is No , go to question 12.
Select
Yes
No
12.
Planned facilities *
Are there confirmed plans – within a
specified timeframe - to develop the appropriate quality
and quantity of facilities to permit the full
development of the planned ex situ program (in
country or out of country)?
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 13. If the answer is No , there is
insufficient infrastructure available or planned to
permit the likely successful development of the ex
situ program for this taxon. You should contact AArk with
respect to possible implementation of rapid response
where urgent action is necessary and/or with respect to
identifying suitable partners/supporters. Also consider
seeking assistance via
AArk's Conservation Project List .
Select
Yes
No
Husbandry and Management
13.
Personnel
Are adequate numbers of skilled staff
available with the appropriate ex situ amphibian
experience?
If the
answer is Yes , go to question 15. If the answer
is No , go to question 14.
Select
Yes
No
14.
Training *
Can adequate numbers of skilled staff be made
available for training in the appropriate ex situ
amphibian skills, prior to animals being collected?
If the answer is Yes , Go to
Question 15.
Please
c ontact AArk training or program officer
for help. If the answer is No , suitable personnel
not available.
Please
c ontact AArk with respect to possible
implementation of rapid response where urgent action is
necessary
and/or with
respect to identifying suitable partners/supporters.
You should also consider seeking assistance via
AArk's Conservation Project List .
Select
Yes
No
15. Food
supply *
Is there a reliable food supply – in both
quality and quantity – for adult, immature and larval
stages of the taxon in place prior to collecting animals
from the wild? Consider the availability of food for the
entire length of the program, and if needs be, an
appropriate food production facility might need to be
implemented.
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 16. If the answer is No , there are
inadequate resources. You should explore food supply opportunities
before proceeding.
Select
Yes
No
16. Management *
Is the appropriate standard of
record-keeping and knowledge of small population
management available to help minimise the risk of
potential deleterious effects such as loss of genetic
diversity, artificial selection, pathogen transfer,
hybridisation etc. (This expertise does not necessarily
have to be held at the facility itself, but access to
these skills is essential).
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 17. If the answer is No , there is a
shortage of skills to support the ex situ
program. You should seek support from
AArk Population Management
Advisory Group and/or regional zoo and aquarium
associations before or soon after, proceeding.
Select
Yes
No
17.
Preparedness for Incoming Animals *
Have appropriate
measures (quarantine, veterinary protocols), facilities
(appropriate environmentally controlled space in
facility) and resources (enclosures, food, staff) been
put in place PRIOR to collecting animals?
If the
answer is Yes , go to question 18. If the answer
is No , facilities are not sufficiently prepared.
You should implement outstanding issues before acquiring animals.
Please
s eek support from AArk .
Select
Yes
No
18.
Veterinary care and health screening *
Has provision
been made for the long term routine health monitoring of
the population and is the appropriate level of
veterinary care available?
If the
answer is Yes , go to question 19. If the answer
is No , there are inadequate resources. You should
seek
veterinary support through universities, zoos and
aquariums or others before proceeding.
Select
Yes
No
Quarantine and Biosecurity
19.
Escapes *
Are measures in place to minimise the risk of
animal escapes and introduction of an invasive species?
If the answer is Yes , go to
question 20. If the answer is No , animal security
measures are not sufficient.
You should
review and improve
biosecurity – Refer to
AArk Husbandry and Biosecurity Standards
before proceeding.
Select
Yes
No
20.
Species isolation *
Are appropriate measures in place at
the proposed ex situ facility to minimise the
risk of possible disease transfer to or from other ex
situ or wild amphibian populations?
If the
answer is Yes , go to question 21. If the answer
is No , there are insufficient measures currently
in place to prevent disease transfer.
You should
review and improve biosecurity –
Refer to
AArk Husbandry and Biosecurity Standards
before proceeding.
Select
Yes
No
21. Water
treatment *
Are the appropriate waste water
treatment regimes in place to eliminate the possibility
of disease transfer from the ex situ population
to the external environment?
If the
answer is Yes , an ex situ conservation
program currently feasible and ready for implementation.
If the answer is No , biosecurity measures are
inadequate.
You should
review and improve biosecurity –
Refer to
AArk Husbandry and Biosecurity Standards
before proceeding.
Select
Yes
No