In this newsletter, we thought you might be interested in meeting some of the AArk staff, the “ship’s crew” that works to raise awareness, build partnerships and capacity, develop guidelines and standards, and prioritize actions…essentially trying to coordinate the efforts of those rowing the boat so that we are all moving efficiently in the same direction.

Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) is a two-year program designed to provide participants with the experience of implementing a conservation project, and seeing it to completion.

National Zoo biologist Brian Gratwicke talks about the newly-formed Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project www.amphibianrescue.org. This project will help expand our capacity to conserve the incredible biodiversity of amphibians in Panama that are threatened with extinction from the advancing wave of chytridiomycosis.

A new research building has recently been completed at the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, which has fully equipped laboratories where ex situ and in situ molecular genetic research is conducted and services are rendered to the conservation community.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust supported by Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d’Orbigny and ALPZA organized a course entitled “Conservación de la Biodiversidad de Anfíbios”, from 12-18 February, 2009 in Copacabana, Bolívia. The program was based on three main issues: understanding the decline of amphibians, learning to prioritize and plan actions and learning how to monitor and manage amphibian populations.

Chester Zoo has the only conservation-breeding population of the Costa Rican, Green-eyed Frog and maintains them in one of its dedicated bio-secure units, known as Amphibian PODs. This article first appeared in Z Magazine – the official magazine of Chester Zoo Members and Adopters, Summer 2009

Yolanda Matamoros outlines four activities that AMACZOOA has been involved in during the last few months.

Two ARAZPA member institutions continue to be heavily involved with Corroboree Frog conservation programs. Michael McFadden from Taronga Zoo and Carly Humphrys from Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve report on their respective institution's progress.

Various organisations in South Asia have been continuing their tireless efforts in raising awareness about the amphibian crisis. These are some of the events that the groups have been involved in recently.

Second-grade students from Tremont Elementary School in Arlington Ohio continue to raise funds for the Amphibian Ark. Their ongoing efforts represent a significant effort towards helping to save amphibians.

Staff and management of a water garden business in Canada become involved in the Year of the Frog activities in a number of ways. Isa Webb from the Bloomin Bog talks about the projects they became involved in.