This directory includes amphibian husbandry experts in a wide range of fields related to captive programs. It is intended to benefit anyone who is involved with conservation programs for captive amphibians. These experts have generously offered their time to help with advice relating to amphibian husbandry.
Please note: If you are not directly involved with captive conservation programs for amphibians, we ask that you consider searching for any information you need on our web site, or using an internet search engine rather than contacting the people below. Due to their existing workloads, these people are unable to answer emails that are not from people involved with captive amphibian programs. Please consider using these other resources to find the help you need: Amphibian Husbandry, Chytrid Fungus, AArk Documents, Amphibians on the Web.
You can filter the list to people who have expertise in particular areas, by selecting a category from the Select Category dropdown below. You can also search by country, name, or any other key word(s).
If you are adding a new profile to this page, please be sure to select one or more Categories, as this is how people can search for your expertise.
Mr Chris Banks
PO Box 74 Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia
Diane Barber
1989 Colonial Parkway Fort Worth TX 76110 USA
Jason Bell
Dr. Olivier Bongard
Biography
I am DVM and director of Zoo de Guyane, a zoo located in French Guiana (French department in South America continent).
French Guiana
Michael Bungard
Totnes Road Paignton TQ4 7EU England
Dr. Luis Carrillo
Biography
Luis has worked with Amphibian Ark in a voluntary assisting in the organization, development, facilitation and/or as lecturer of many AArk’s Conservation Needs Assessment workshops and amphibian biology and management courses in Latin-America, and he is now our full-time Training Officer. Since 2005, Luis has also worked with the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG/SSC/IUCN) Regional Network Mexico and since 2012, has been the regional representative for Mexico with the main role of organizing and facilitating conservation workshops for many species in the Latin-American region.
Distrito Federal C.P Mexico
Dee Ann Ann Chamberlain
Biography
I’ve been managing the City of Austin’s captive breeding program for the endangered, fully aquatic, neotenic Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum) and Austin Blind Salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis) since 1998. We track salamanders as individuals and utilize software tools to analyze and model the populations for gene diversity over time based on pedigree. I also participate in research projects as well as field surveys.
Austin Salamander Conservation Center 301 Nature Center Dr. Austin TX 78746
Gustavo Ernesto Quintero Díaz
Aguascalientes Aguascalientes 20000 Mexico
Roberto Elias Piperis
Biography
Roberto Elías is a wildlife veterinarian at the National University of San Marcos in Peru. After receiving a diploma certificate in endangered species management from the University of Kent in the U.K., he started working at Cayetano Heredia University in Peru, where he was the coordinator of the Laboratory of Wildlife and assistant professor of the conservation medicine undergraduate course for veterinary students. He later began a project with the Denver Zoo focused on conserving the Titicaca water frog, which included a captive breeding component, research in situ, and social activities. Elías earned a second specialization in wildlife conservation from Cayetano Heredia University and later a master’s degree in conservation of forestry resources. He has a wildlife specialist license from the Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre del Ministerio de Agricultura y Riego, is a CITES expert for Ministerio del Ambiente, and a member of the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group.
Avenida Honorio Delgado 430 Lima Lima Perú
Ron Gagliardo
Seattle WA USA
Carlos Andrés Galvis
Carrera 2 Oeste Calle 14 esquina Cali Valle del Cauca Colombia
Gerardo Garcia
Biography
GERARDO GARCÍA was born in Barcelona (1969, Spain) is the Curator of Lower Vertebrates and Invertebrates for Chester Zoo since March 2012.
He has been Head of the Herpetology Department at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust based in Jersey, United Kingdom (UK) since 2003 until 2012. His herpetological career started at Barcelona Zoo and at the Science Museum of Barcelona (CosmoCaixa) up until 1996 when he moved to work at Thoiry Zoo (Paris, France).
Gerardo completed a Ph.D. at the Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), University of Kent on the “Ecology, human impact, and conservation of the Madagascan side-necked turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis) at Ankarafantsika National Park”, where he lived for two years during his data collection and field work in Madagascar. Gerardo analyzed his data and began to write his thesis at the Laboratoire des Reptiles et Amphibiens, Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle of Paris, moving to Jersey in 2001.
His work with amphibians began in 1992 at the Barcelona Zoo being involved during the early years of the Recovery Programme for the Mallorcan midwife toad. Since then he has been involved with captive breeding programs of reptiles and amphibians in several institutions, linking ex situ with in situ conservation in Jersey (Rana dalmatina and Bufo bufo), Montserrat/Dominica (Leptodactylus fallax), Madagascar (Erymnochelys madagascariensis, Pyxis planicauda, Astrochelys yniphora, Mantella aurantiaca, M. cowani), Spain (Alytes obstetricans and Rana iberica), Mauritius (Nactus coindemirensis and Gongylomorphus fontenayi sp.) and recently in Bermuda (Plestiodon longirostris). During the last few years he has been involved in various training initiatives for amphibians around the world (Colombia, Dominica, France, Germany, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Spain, Montserrat, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden and Venezuela), improving the husbandry protocols of captive colonies and diverse in situ programs such as the Mountain chicken frogs (EAZA EEP Coordinator), genus Alytes and Rana in Spain and the amphibians of Jersey. Since 2012 he is also EAZA EEP Studbook Coordinator for the Komodo dragons and 2016 for the Achoques (Ambystoma dumerilii).
Gerardo has been actively involved in the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) as chair of the Amphibian Taxon Advisory Group (ATAG) and vice-chair for the Reptile TAG. He’s also member of several IUCN Specialist Group. His major goal is to bring in situ conservation and research for these programs into the core of the EAZA. Gerardo was actively involved in the development of the Amphibian Campaign of the Year of the Frog 2008 and co-directed the first amphibian conservation courses in Europe for Zoos and Aquariums in 2006 continuing until now.
During his first three years at Chester Zoo has been directly involved on the development of the large collection of reptiles, amphibians, fishes and invertebrates to the new projects. One of the greatest developments is the Collection Plan for the development of the new project of Islands with more than 60 species. He also developed the in situ conservation programmes linked with his Departments in countries like Mexico, Madagascar and Indonesia as the diverse applied research projects to support animal welfare and conservation.
Gerardo also takes a great interest in raising the profile of the programmes within both specialist groups and the general public. In his spare time he also assisted other zoological institutions in the development of their animal collections, design exhibits, training staff and off show facilities for reptiles and amphibians and in the development of new conservation programs.
Chester Zoo Cedar House Chester Cheshire CH21LH UK
Andrea Gielens
Biography
Andrea Gielens has a Bachelors degree in zoology and animal behaviour and a Masters degree in Environmental Management. She has worked both in Canada and Europe, at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, with captive breeding, augmentation and in situ conservation programs for many species of amphibians and chelonians. She has worked extensively with both the Oregon Spotted frog Recovery Team (since 2006) as well as the Western Painted Turtle Recovery team (since 2010) both in the field and with the augmentation and population recovery programs for both species. She focuses on working with multi species wetland conservation initiatives including restoration, augmentation, and monitoring.
7 27234 30th ave Aldergrove BC V4W3G7 Canada
Deon Gilbert
Biography
Deon leads the strategic direction for Zoos Victoria threatened herpetofauna programs, including ex situ conservation and recovery management for Baw Baw frog, spotted tree frog, northern and southern corroboree frog, giant burrowing frog and the large brown frog.
Elliot Avenue Melbourne VIC 3052 Australia
Matt Goetz
Les Augres Manor Trinity Jersey JE3 5BP UK
Sandra Marcela Gómez
Biography
Sandra Gomez is Animal Husbandry from the La Salle University in Bogota, she got a Diploma Course at the International Training Center at Jersey Zoo UK in 2003, she is doing a Master in Environmental Management, she is a University Teacher in Bogotá, she started work at Santacruz Zoo in 2000, as a Coordinator of the Nutrition department, moved to education conservation Department in 2004.
She works in different conservation projects in animal husbandry an environmental education with local communities. At the institution, it will be running different research in Amphibians from the High Mountains in Colombia, related with species identification, habitat conditions, morphotypes, captive husbandry, in situ nutritional studies, acoustic and others.
Robert L Hill
800 Cherokee Ave. SE Atlanta Georgia 30315 USA
Ms Raelene Hobbs
PO Box 74 Parkville Victoria Australia
Kevin Johnson
Biography
Assist Amphibian Ark partners in identifying priority taxa and regions for ex situ conservation work using the Conservation Needs Assessment process (http://www.ConservationNeeds.org).
Also develop communications strategies, messages, newsletters and other materials to promote understanding and action on behalf of amphibian conservation and assist AArk partner organizations in reaching multiple audiences within AArk organizations, the conservation community, governments, and the public.
Co-Chair of the IUCN ASG Conservation Breeding Working Group.
Bellingen NSW Australia
Federico Pablo Kacoliris
Biography
Federico is researcher from National Council of Scientific Researchers in Argentina, based in La Plata Museum, developing studies framed on biodiversity conservation. Federico also conducts conservation programs of endangered amphibians, integrating in situ and ex situ management.
C. Cuccolo La Plata Buenos Aires Argentina
Blake Klocke
Biography
I am currently Curator of Amphibians at the Detroit Zoological Society. My research interests are broad in the needs of amphibian conservation, and previously include Bsal testing/policy and reintroduction trials of Atelopus varius and Atelopus limosus in Panama.
8450 W 10 Mile Road Royal Oak MI 48067 USA
Enrique La Marca
Biography
Herpetologist. Tropical Ecologist. Born in Venezuela. Worked ad Universidad de Los Andes in Merida city. Founder and Executive Director of REVA. Recipient of the Georg Forster Award from the Humboldt Stiftung, Germany.
Dr Michael Wai Neng Lau
Hong Kong
Dr Andrew Lentini
361A Old Finch Ave Toronto Ontario M1B 5K7 Canada
Mark Louis Mandica
Biography
I am the Co-founder and Executive Director of the Amphibian Foundation in Atlanta (GA, USA). Our conservation research programs center on imperiled amphibian species, primarily in the southeastern United States. Species such as the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander, Gopher Frog, Striped Newt, Pigeon Mountain Salamander, Southern Dusky Salamander, Tiger Salamander, and Black Warrior Waterdog. We also focus on those species which are impacted by urbanization in Atlanta such as the Spotted Salamander and the Marbled Salamander. We work in the northeastern US with true Blue-spotted Salamanders as well, and have extensive experience in working with tropical frogs from Central and South America. Our specialization is in pond-breeding amphibians (particularly the Ambystoma genus) and ephemeral wetland conservation and restoration. We work with partners to produce healthy captive propagated offspring which are candidates for release back into restored and managed habitats. The Amphibian Foundation trains hundreds of people every year through our Conservation Research Bridge Program (for conservation careers), our extensive internship and volunteer programs, and through our courses, such as the Master Herpetologist Program which is building a global network of amphibian enthusiasts and environmental stewards.
4055 Roswell Rd NE Atlanta GA 30342 USA
Erika Marantelli
Victoria Australia
Gerry Marantelli
Victoria Australia
Olivier Marquis
Paris Zoo 51 avenue de Saint Maurice Paris 75012 France
Stan Mays
Houston Zoo, Inc. 1513 Cambridge Houston TX 77030 USA
Michael McFadden
Biography
I currently co-ordinate amphibian conservation programs at Taronga Zoo, including those for species such as the northern and southern corroboree frog and yellow-spotted bell frog. This has previously included other threatened species such as the Booroolong frog, green and golden bell frog and alpine tree frog.
I am also co-convenor of the ZAA (Zoo and Aquarium Association) Amphibian TAG.
I have assisted Amphibian Ark to instruct amphibian conservation and husbandry workshops in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.
PO Box 20 Mosman NSW 2088 Australia
Andres Merino-Viteri
Biography
As part of my researcher and lecturer job at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador, I am in charge of one of the oldest and largest amphibian conservation facilities in Ecuador. Our center keeps over 40 species of ambibians, so our skills include fieldwork, in situ and ex situ research, and husbandry, that we are very open to share with colleagues.
Quito Ecuador
Arturo Munoz
Av. Potosi 1458 Cochabamba Cochabamba Bolivia
Dr. Jennifer Pramuk
Biography
Jennifer’s professional zoo experience includes her current position as a curator at the Woodland Park Zoo, where she oversees the endangered Oregon spotted frog and Western pond turtle head starting and release programs. She has taught amphibian husbandry courses through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Amphibian Management School and also in Madagascar and Colombia. In her former position as the curator of herpetology at the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation society, she worked on the Kihansi spray toad reintroduction program. Jenny has described 21 species of frogs and toads new to science and published more than 25 peer-reviewed papers. Her experience with reintroduction projects has enabled her to become well versed on issues particular to the conservation and reintroduction of endangered species. She currently is an affiliate curator at the University of Washington’s Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture and serves on the Board of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists and as the Co-Chair of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Amphibian Taxon Advisory Group.
5500 Phinney Ave N SEATTLE WA 98117 USA
Jean Henri Raffaëlli
Biography
IUCN Amphibian Breeding Group specialist on salamanders, Co-President of the French Urodela Group (FUG) and author of the book Les Urodeles du Monde (Salamanders of the World). FUG has experienced in maintaining 200 species of salamanders of which more than 100 have been reproduced in captivity.
PENCLEN Plumelec 56420 France
Mr Borja Reh
Biography
I’m a herpetologist with an MSc in Wildlife Ethology and Conservation and extensive experience in zoological Institutions. Through my career, I have developed a deep interest in the fields of conservation education, animal welfare science, and wildlife conservation and research. I’ve worked as a herpetology curator in Madrid Zoo and Faunia (Spain) and more recently in Wildlife Reserves Singapore. My career focus has been on planning and developing highly skilled teams to look after sensitive species of reptiles and amphibians.
Príncipe de Vergara, 266 Madrid Spain 28016 Spain
Dr. Steve Reichling
Biography
Steve Reichling is Director of Conservation & Research at the Memphis Zoo, where he has worked for 45 years. He is heavily involved in the captive management of reptiles and amphibians and their conservation in the wild. He leads the zoo component of the recovery program for the Endangered dusky gopher frog (Lithobates sevosus), having founded the AZA Species Survival Program for the taxon and initiated the captive-breeding and release program in partnership with state and federal agencies, NGOs, and academia. He also initiated the zoo-based component of the striped newt (Notopthalmus perstriatus) release program. His herpetological interests center on the species endemic to the longleaf pine ecosystems of the southeastern United States, resulting in his book “Reptiles and Amphibians of the Southern Pine Woods” (Univ. of Florida Press), and he leads the zoo-based recovery effort for the Louisiana pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni). In addition to being a professional herpetologist, he is intensely interested in tarantulas, resulting in his book “Tarantulas of Belize” (Krieger Publishing Co.), and has discovered and described four new species and one new genus, all from Central America. A spider genus, Reichlingia, is named in recognition of his work.
Memphis Zoo 2000 Prentiss Place Memphis Tennessee 38112 United States
Santiago Ron
Biography
Curator of Amphibians at Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE). His past and current research has focused on the study of amphibian population declines in the tropical Andes. The amphibian division at Museo de Zoología PUCE hosts Balsa de los Sapos, one of the largest captive breeding facilities in Latin America.
Kristine Schad
Benjamin Tapley , MSc
Biography
Co-chair IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group, Captive Breeding Working Group.
Chair BIAZA Reptile & Amphibian Working Group.
Amphibian Regional Collection Plan Coordinator EAZA.
London England
Dr. Karthikeyan Vasudevan
Biography
I am a scientist at the Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. I have been involved in field research of reptiles and amphibians in India for more than fifteen years.
My research interests are identifying drivers of herpetofaunal endemism, ecology of endangered herp species, development of field techniques for the study of rare and endangered species. I am presently the Co-Chair of the Amphibian Specialist Group for South Asia region excluding Sri Lanka.
162 Pillar PVNR Expressway Hyderguda Hyderabad 500 048 India
Tom J. Weaver
2300 Steele Street Denver Colorado 80205 USA
Thomas Ziegler
Biography
Thomas Ziegler has been the Curator of the Aquarium/Terrarium Department of the Cologne Zoo, Germany, since 2003. He is also the Coordinator of the Biodiversity Research and Nature Conservation Projects of the Cologne Zoo in Vietnam and Laos. He has studied biology at the University Bonn, Germany, and conducted his diploma and doctoral thesis at the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig in Bonn, with a focus on zoological systematics and amphibian and reptile diversity. He has been engaged with herpetological diversity research and conservation in Vietnam since 1997. He has published more than 500 papers and books, mainly dealing with herpetological diversity and conservation. He has scientifically described 128 species mainly of amphibians and reptiles, predominantly together with the cooperation partners from Vietnam. As a Zoo Curator and Project Coordinator, he tries to combine in situ and ex situ approaches, such as to link zoo biological aspects with diversity research and conservation in the Cologne Zoo, in rescue stations and breeding facilities in Vietnam, and in the last remaining forests in Indochina. He is member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and of the IUCN/SSC Amphibian, Crocodile, Monitor Lizard and Skink Specialist Groups. He is Regional Chairman of the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group for Europe and European Studbook Keeper for the Philippine crocodile. He is in the advisory council of Stiftung Artenschutz, in the operative advisory council of Citizen Conservation c/o Frogs & Friends and Advisor of Yayasan Ulin (Ironwood Foundation), East Kalimantan. Thomas Ziegler is Editorial Board member of a number of Journals, amongst others Nature Conservation, The Zoological Garden, and ZooKeys. Beginning in February 2009, he has been an Associate Professor at the Zoological Institute of Cologne University, Germany, and since 2016 is an Adjunct Professor. He also has a guest lectureship at the Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi. He teaches diversity research and conservation of amphibians and reptiles, as well as zoo biology and implementation of zoos as modern arks / conservation zoos. His current research focuses on the realisation of IUCN’s One Plan Approach, which aims at developing integrative strategies to combine in situ and ex situ measures with groups of experts for the purpose of optimized species conservation.
Riehler Str. 173 Köln 79 50735 Germany
is grateful for the generous support of these organizations that sponsor and/or host our staff
