A new study suggests that zoos aren't doing enough for endangered amphibians. Of the 800 American and European zoos surveyed, over 75 percent of zoo amphibian collections included non-endangered species. Worse still, only 6.2 percent of the world’s threatened and endangered amphibians had homes in zoos.
Zoos can and should be doing more.
Comparatively, the institutions are willing to take in 15.9 percent of the world’s threatened birds and 23 percent of threatened (and money-making) mammals. Surely, they could make room for smaller amphibians.
The authors of the study suspect that cost, possible disease outbreaks and a lack of expertise could be holding zoos back. Amphibians -- as usually small and brown creatures -- also lack exhibit appeal. Unbelievable!
Zoos need to stop caring how good (or not) amphibians look in their exhibits and focus on the environmental consequences of a world without them. Endangered animals, including amphibians, should be priority.
Sign and share this petition demanding that the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) steps up for these endangered brown little guys who do so much for our environment and us before it's too late.
