AArk has offered grants since 2009, predominantly to support newly created ex situ programs for species that have been assessed as in need of urgent rescue.
We welcome applications from all countries, especially those that have established National Programs.
Next grants application call: June 2025
Program grants
Initial funding to help newly-launched ex situ rescue projects, with funding available for 1-3 years.
Funded programs will receive up to US$7,000 in the first year.
Additional funds will be available for year 2 (up to US$5,000) and year 3 (up to US$3,000) if projects have met their stated objectives and applicants have submitted required reports on time.
Please note: Species must have been assessed as in need of ex situ rescue or research work, either as a recommendation from a Conservation Needs Assessment or a similar assessment process.
A response for every question is required.
Please note that in addition to the application form, applicants will be required to submit a budget and recommendation letters separately to grants@amphibianark.org. Instructions are included in each application form. Uncompleted forms will not save, so please save your work elsewhere, especially if working in multiple sessions.
A pdf of the application questions can be found here for your reference.
Workshop Grants
Our Workshop Grant supports:
- Organizations which are planning an in-person amphibian conservation-related workshop or symposium, especially those which focus on amphibian husbandry, planning, and/or reintroduction.
- Partial funding to attend an ex situ amphibian conservation-related workshop, especially those which focus on amphibian husbandry, planning, and reintroduction.
Applicants must have already secured partial funding for the workshop.
For attending a workshop: grants of up to US$750 are available.
For planning a workshop: grants up to US$2,500 are available.
Please note that in addition to the application form, applicants will be required to submit a budget and recommendation letters separately to grants@amphibianark.org. Instructions are included in each application form. Uncompleted forms will not save, so please save your work elsewhere, especially if working in multiple sessions.
A pdf of the application questions can be found here for your reference.
Emergency grants
Limited funding is available throughout the year for emergency situations such as unanticipated major equipment failure in existing ex situ programs. These grants are also available for the ex situ component of the emergency rescue of wild populations facing imminent threat of extinction. Please download the Emergency Grants Guidelines or contact grants@amphibianark.org at any time to discuss an emergency grant.
The grant process:
If awarded an AArk Grant, recipients are required to:
- Provide bank account details for the institution to the AArk within two weeks of being notified of grant approval.
- Return the signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) between the director of the recipient institution and the AArk within two weeks of being notified of grant approval. A copy of the MOU can be seen here.
- Supply 3-4 photos of species, facilities, and/or workshop for AArk communication materials.
- Send a brief progress report (e.g. newsletter article) and photos two (workshop grants) or six (program grants) months after funding received.
- For program grantees: produce husbandry guidelines within six months of acquiring animals (using the Amphibian Husbandry Guidelines template). Existing examples are available on the Husbandry Documents page for reference.
- For program grantees: submit a draft (or complete) action plan six months after funding is received.
- For program grantees: send a final progress report twelve months after funding is received.
Grant FAQs
Are program outlines still required?
No, we are trialing applications without program outlines this year. Please read the instructions carefully.
Is AArk still offering Mentorship Grants?
We have incorporated requests for mentorship into the new Program Grant. If you are a previous grantee and would like to discuss a mentorship need or opportunity, please contact us at grants@amphibianark.org.
Can I read the application questions before completing the form?
Yes. Since the form will not save over multiple sessions, we have provided a pdf of the questions for your reference (Program Grants questions here and Workshop Grants here). Applicants must still submit the form but are encouraged to compose their responses in a program like Word or Google Docs and copy/paste them into the form (this ensures they have a copy of their work saved elsewhere).
Need some help?
AArk staff are available if you need assistance with your application. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions at grants@amphibianark.org
Past Grantees
Here you can find out more about our past grantees, the species, projects, and countries we have supported since 2009:
2024
Program Grants
- Ex situ conservation of the critically endangered restinga toad (Melanophryniscus setiba).
Adriana Mezini and Marcelo Bellini Lucas.
Brazil.
Learn more about AArk's Brazil National Program here.
Read about the initial steps of the rescue program here.
- Clarifying the Protocol for the Successful Rearing of Ambystoma dumerilii Larvae.
Rodolfo Pérez Rodriguez.
México.
Species Action Plan.
- Ex situ conservation of Physalaemus soaresi at BioParque do Rio.
Samuel Vieira
Brazil.
Learn more about AArk's Brazil National Program here.
Read about the initial steps of the rescue program here.
Extension Grants
- Ex situ rescue of the Rancho Grande Harlequin Frog (Atelopus cruciger) in Venezuela — Third year: securing the first reintroduction of juveniles.
Margarita Lampo, Fundación para el Desarrollo de las Ciencias Físicas, Matemáticas y Naturales (FUDECI) & Leslie Pantin Zoo.
Venezuela.
Species Action Plan.
- Ex situ conservation for the critically endangered tree-frog Nyctimantis pomba.
Cybele Lisboa, AArk's National Coordinator—Brazil
Brazil.
Learn more about AArk's Brazil National Program here.
Workshop Planning Grant
- An amphibian ex situ conservation medicine/vet workshop for Brazilian practitioners hosted by Sao Paulo Zoo.
Fabricio Rassy and Iago Junqueira
Brazil.
Learn more about AArk's Brazil National Program here.
2023
Startup Grant
- Towards the return of the Patagonia frog (Atelognathus patagonicus) to Laguna Blanca, Argentina.
Paula González Ciccia, Fundación Temaikén.
Argentina.
Species Action Plan.
Extension Grant
- Ex situ rescue of the Rancho Grande harlequin frog (Atelopus cruciger) in Venezuela.
Margarita Lampo, Fundación para el Desarrollo de las Ciencias Físicas, Matemáticas y Naturales (FUDECI) & Leslie Pantin Zoo.
Venezuela.
Species Action Plan.
2022
Startup Grants
- Ex situ rescue of the Rancho Grande Harlequin Frog (Atelopus cruciger) in Venezuela.
Margarita Lampo, Fundación para el Desarrollo de las Ciencias Físicas (FUDECI).
Venezuela.
- Establishment of insurance population for Pithecopus rusticus.
Benjamin Phalan, Parque das Aves.
Brazil.
- Establishing captive breeding and husbandry protocols for Atelopus hoogmoedi, an analog species of the threatened Manauense harlequin toad (A. manauensis) in Brazil.
Cybele Lisboa, Reserva Paulista, São Paulo Zoo.
Brazil.
- First ex situ management actions for the conservation of Ceratophrys ornata in Argentina.
Sofía M. Perrone, Conservación de Anfibios en Argentina (COANA)
Argentina.
- Conservation of Melanophryniscus estebani: An endemic, poorly known species from Chaco Serrano (Argentina).
Dr. Nadia Carla Bach, Universidad Nacional de San Luis.
San Luis, Argentina.
Extension Grants
- Towards the conservation of the Darwin’s blackish toad (Melanophryniscus nigricans).
Igor Berkunsky, CONICET.
Argentina.
- Continuing captive breeding efforts for La Culata frog (Aromobates duranti) and the Mucuchíes frog (A. zippeli).
Enrique La Marca, Rescue of Endangered Venezuelan Amphibians (REVA) Conservation Center.
Venezuela.
La Culata frog Action Plan
Mucuchíes frog Action Plan
Mentorship Grant
- Centro de Conservación de Anfibios Amaru and Detroit Zoo Mentorship Grant.
Fausto Siavichay, Centro de Conservación de Anfibios Amaru (CCA-Amaru).
Ecuador.
2021
- Establishing an ex situ conservation strategy for Paradactylodon persicus gorganensis in Iran.
Dr. Seyyed Saeed Hosseinian Yousefkhani, Institute of Biological Studies, School of Biology, Damghan University.
Damghan, Iran.
- The Junin Amphibian Conservation Center.
Roberto Elias, NGO Grupo RANA.
Perú.
2020
Startup Grants
- Ex situ conservation of a critically endangered frog (Conraua derooi) in Ghana.
Caleb Ofori-Boateng and Michael Gyapong Akrasi, Herp Conservation Ghana (Herp-Ghana).
Ghana.
- Developing ex situ facilities for the conservation of the Indian caecilian Gegeneophis tejaswini.
Dr. Ramachandran Kotharambath, Central University of Kerala.
India.
- Merida’s harlequin frog is back after three decades! A proposal to rescue the species Atelopus oxyrhynchus.
Enrique La Marca, Rescue of Endangered Venezuelan Amphibians (REVA) program of the BIOGEOS Foundation.
Venezuela.
- Rescuing the southernmost marsupial frog species (Gastrotheca gracilis) in Argentina.
Dr. Mauricio Sebastián Akmentins, INECOA, UNJu-CONICET.
Argentina.
Species Action Plan
Mentorship Grant
- Capacity Building of Uganda’s in-country ex situ husbandry and captive amphibian breeding expertise.
James Watuwa and Dr. James Musinguzi, Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre.
Uganda.
2019
- Using radio-telemetry to track survival and disease outcomes in the Mountain-Yellow-legged Frog (Rana muscosa) to inform ex situ management.
Tali Hammond, Institute for Conservation Research.
United States.
Species Action Plan
- Project Palaka, Phase II – Platymantis insulatus ex situ program.
Norman Greenhawk, Project Palaka.
Philippines.
- First steps towards the conservation of the Darwin’s Blackish Toad (Melanophryniscus nigricans)
Igor Berkunsky, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.
Argentina.
- Start-up grant for the Lake Patzcuaro Salamander (Ambystoma dumerilii).
Margarita Ruiz Flores, Zacango Ecological Park – CEPANAF.
México.
Species Action Plan
2018
- Rescuing the southernmost Marsupial Frog species (Gastrotheca gracilis) in Argentina.
Argentina.
Species Action Plan
- The return of the Patagonia Frog (Atelognathus patagonicus) to Laguna Blanca.
Federico Kacoliris, Museo de La Plata.
Argentina.
Species Action Plan
- Fighting back extinction risk: a conservation program for the Venezuelan Andean frog (Aromobates duranti).
Enrique La Marca.
Venezuela.
Species Action Plan
- Head-starting Pool Frogs for the UK reintroduction (Extension Grant).
PARC.
United Kingdom.
Species Action Plan
2017
- Reintroduction of the Northern Pool Frog to the UK.
PARC.
United Kingdom.
Species Action Plan
- Guanajuato Program for the rescue of the Big-footed Leopard Frog (Lithobates megapoda)
México.
- An ex situ conservation program for the Zippel’s Frog (Aromobates zippeli)
Enrique La Marca, Universidad de Los Andes.
Mérida, Venezuela.
Species Action Plan
- Saving the giant frogs of Perú, Lake Junín Frog (Telmatobius macrostomus)
Perú.
2016
- Ex situ conservation project for the Lake Patzcuaro Salamander (Ambystoma dumerilii).
Chapultepec Zoo.
México City, México.
- 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.
Mérida, Venezuela.
Species Action Plan.
2015
- Rescuing the endangered Merida’s Collared Frog.
University of Los Andes.
Mérida, 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.
Ecuador.
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.
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.
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.
Madagascar.- In 2024, scientists from Association Mitsinjo published an update on the ecology and reproductive biology of 11 Malagasy frog species from the ex situ facility which resulted partly from this grant. Read it here.
- In 2024, scientists from Association Mitsinjo published an update on the ecology and reproductive biology of 11 Malagasy frog species from the ex situ facility which resulted partly from this grant. Read it here.
- Conservation of Melanophryniscus estebani: An endemic, poorly known species from Chaco Serrano.
Argentina.
