Center for Ecuadorian Amphibian Conservation
Background
Amphibians are disappearing at an exponential rate, causing the world's largest single mass vertebrate extinction in history. Ecuador ranks third in the world for amphibian diversity with over 9 percent of the world's amphibians. Over 44% of these are found nowhere else on Earth. In 2011, Dr. Luis Coloma founded Centro Jambatu de Investigacion y Conservation de Anfibios, which in 2019 was renamed Fundacion Jambatu. This amphibian conservation organization works tirelessly to save amphibians in Ecuador from extinction.
St. Louis Interest
With experts in amphibian conservation and management and a deep concern for the declining amphibian populations internationally, the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute has supported amphibian conservation efforts in Ecuador since 2006. In 2019, the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Ecuadorian Amphibian Collaboration was elevated to the Center for Ecuadorian Amphibian Conservation in an effort to take a more multidisciplinary and collaborative approach toward conserving the unique flora and fauna of Ecuador.
Goal
To support Fundacion Jambatu's mission of conserving amphibians through the implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Conservation of the Ecuadorian Amphibians in Extinction Risk.
Conservation Science
Fundacion Jambatu is located in Quito, Ecuador and covers an area of approximately 2½ acres. This space is dedicated to the conservation breeding and research of Ecuadorian amphibians. Fundacion Jambatu currently houses over 30 species of amphibians, 17 of which are currently listed as either critically endangered or endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. In addition to conducting valuable field surveys, the biologists at the Fundacion Jambatu are working to describe new species to science, investigate species natural histories and reintroduce species back into viable habitat. Fundacion Jambatu's facilities include a lab and public outreach facilities. Fundacion Jambatu has one of the largest and most significant assurance populations of amphibians in the western hemisphere.