Amphibian Ark

What Amphibian Ark does

Amphibian Ark is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 that coordinates global ex-situ conservation programs for amphibian species at risk of extinction. It was jointly established by the IUCN SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (now the Conservation Planning Specialist Group, CPSG), the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG), and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). The organization serves zoos, aquariums, government wildlife agencies, academic institutions, and field conservation practitioners, with active programs in more than 20 countries and rescue work spanning 34 range countries where amphibian species face extinction threats. To date, it has trained over 2,500 conservationists and assessed more than 3,500 amphibian species through its Conservation Needs Assessment (CNA) process.

The organization's core programmatic products include CNA workshops that prioritize species for ex-situ intervention, an Amphibian Husbandry Library serving as a knowledge base for captive care, the AArk Grant Program that funds rescue and conservation work, training resources and the Institutional Readiness Assessment Tool, and National Programs that build in-country conservation capacity (currently operating in Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala). The first reintroduction trials, including work with the Valcheta frog, marked a transition from ex-situ husbandry toward direct conservation outcome delivery. A new Amphibian Rescue podcast launched in 2026 extends public engagement capacity.

Amphibian Ark operates as a donation-funded 501(c)(3)-style nonprofit with a tiered donor recognition program (Strategic, Principal, and Core Supporters) and distributes grants to partner organizations worldwide. By 2021, the AArk Grant Program had disbursed over $250,000 across 42 species rescue programs in 22 countries. The organization runs with a small staff of 1-10 employees and relies on institutional partnerships with IUCN, WAZA, and a globally distributed network of zoo, aquarium, and field conservation partners to deliver its programs.

Name

Amphibian Ark

Legal name

Amphibian Ark

Website

https://amphibianark.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Amphibian Ark is a nonprofit founded in 2007 that coordinates global ex-situ amphibian conservation, serving zoos, government agencies, and field practitioners across 20+ countries through Conservation Needs Assessments, husbandry training, grant funding, and National Programs in Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Ex-situ conservation
• Amphibian conservation
• Captive breeding programs
• Species rescue grants
• Wildlife conservation training

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Amphibian Ark is entirely funded by donations from individuals. Donors can make one-time or recurring monthly donations through the website via PayPal.
2. Organizational Grants: Support from organizations including Strategic Supporters ($10,000+/year), Principal Supporters ($5,000-$9,999/year), Core Supporters ($1,000-$4,999/year), and other organizational donors.
3. Donor Tiers: Structured donor recognition program including Strategic Supporters, Principal Supporters, Core Supporters, and general Supporters with varying contribution levels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Amphibian Ark coordinates the global ex-situ response to the amphibian extinction crisis. The organization facilitates Conservation Needs Assessments to prioritize at-risk species, delivers technical training to institutions and conservationists, awards grants to qualifying rescue programs, and operates National Programs in Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala. It also maintains the Amphibian Husbandry Library and the Conservation Needs Assessment Database as resources for the conservation community.

Product overview

Amphibian Ark is a nonprofit conservation organization founded in 2007 that operates a portfolio of interconnected services focused on rescuing amphibian species from extinction. The organization provides Conservation Needs Assessments to prioritize species, an Amphibian Husbandry Library for best practices, Training Resources including instructional videos, an Institutional Readiness Assessment Tool for evaluating ex situ program readiness, grant funding through the AArk Grant Program, and National Programs in Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala. Additional offerings include the Amphibian Rescue Podcast and Quarterly Newsletter for dissemination of conservation stories and updates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Needs Assessment (CNA) Database A searchable database of Conservation Needs Assessments identifying amphibian species most in need of rescue and the actions that will give them the best chance for survival. Used by conservation organizations, zoological institutions, and government agencies to prioritize species for ex-situ intervention.
• Amphibian Husbandry Library A collection of husbandry guidelines, species management documents, and best practices for ex-situ amphibian conservation, covering nutrition, health, reproduction, biosecurity, and reintroduction. Managed in partnership with the Zoological Society of London and used by conservation practitioners globally.
• Training Resources Online training materials including videos on amphibian nutrition, reproduction, breeding, water quality, lighting, temperature, biosecurity, climate change impacts, and reintroduction techniques. Used by conservationists, institutions, and practitioners in range countries to build ex-situ conservation capacity.
• Institutional Readiness Assessment Tool A checklist tool that helps institutions determine whether they are ready to implement ex-situ conservation breeding programs, evaluating authorization, program stability, taxon knowledge, accommodation, husbandry, and biosecurity. Used by zoos and conservation institutions globally.
• AArk Grant Program Grant funding program supporting newly created ex-situ rescue projects, including program grants (up to $7,000 for the first year), workshop grants (up to $2,500), and emergency grants available year-round for qualifying amphibian conservation programs.
• National Programs Coordinated national-level amphibian rescue programs operating in Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala, led by in-country National Coordinators who mobilize comprehensive responses through local institutions, government agencies, zoos, universities, and NGOs.
• Conservation Needs Assessment (CNA) Workshops Facilitated workshops with local experts to evaluate and prioritize amphibian species at risk, applying a standardized methodology developed jointly with IUCN Amphibian Red List Authority. Delivered globally to conservation organizations, government agencies, and institutions.
• Amphibian Rescue Podcast A monthly podcast featuring conversations with conservationists, researchers, and institutions about species rescue, conservation breeding, and reintroduction efforts for amphibians. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founding partner of Amphibian Ark in 2007. ASG provides the scientific foundation for global amphibian conservation. Their Amphibian Red List Authority (ARLA) maintains amphibian assessments on the IUCN Red List through the Global Amphibian Assessment Initiative.
• World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founding partner of Amphibian Ark in 2007. WAZA connects zoos and aquariums globally and supports the ex-situ conservation mission of AArk through member institutions.
• Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG). Co-founding partner that developed the Conservation Needs Assessment process and continues to support AArk's planning and implementation efforts.
• Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShares the vision of building a future where amphibians thrive in nature. Works to conserve amphibians in the wild and coordinate global partnerships, funding, communication, and education alongside AArk and ASG.
• Zoological Society of LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZSL manages the Amphibian Husbandry Library as a resource for the conservation community.
• Association Mitsinjo (Madagascar)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization in Madagascar that received AArk's first grant in 2009 to establish a captive breeding facility for Malagasy amphibians. Published updates on 11 Malagasy frog species from ex-situ programs in 2024.
• IUCN SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal co-founding partner (now CPSG) that initiated the Amphibian Ark concept at a joint workshop in 2006.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Amphibian Survival Alliance: Parallel global coordinating body focused on amphibian conservation. Shares the vision with AArk and ASG of building a future where amphibians thrive; coordinates partnerships, funding, communication, and education in the same taxonomic niche.
• IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG): Co-founding partner of AArk that drives the scientific foundation for global amphibian conservation. Manages the Global Amphibian Assessment and Red List, providing the in-situ counterpart to AArk's ex-situ mandate in the same species space.

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society: Major global conservation organization operating zoos (Bronx, Central Park, etc.) and field programs across 100+ countries. Board member Keith Lovett represents WCS on AArk's Board, indicating institutional overlap in amphibian and broader wildlife conservation.
• Mandai Nature: Singapore-based zoo and conservation arm of Mandai Wildlife Group. Board member Sonja Luz represents Mandai Nature on AArk's Board. Operates ex-situ amphibian conservation programs in Southeast Asia, a critical range region not heavily served by AArk's current footprint.
• Fauna & Flora International: Long-established species-focused conservation NGO operating across 40+ countries with similar grant-making and capacity-building models. Overlaps with AArk in amphibian and broader threatened-species programming.
• Zoological Society of London (ZSL): Manages the Amphibian Husbandry Library on AArk's behalf and runs conservation programs in range countries. Operates London and Whipsnade Zoos with significant ex-situ capacity comparable to AArk's network of partner institutions.

Regional players

• Detroit Zoo: U.S. zoo with the National Amphibian Conservation Center, providing mentorship to partner institutions like Centro de Conservación de Anfibios Amaru in Ecuador. Direct operational peer in ex-situ amphibian husbandry and breeding infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Re:wild: Species-focused conservation organization (formerly Global Wildlife Conservation) protecting wildlife and wild places. Engages on amphibian and other threatened taxa through partnerships and field programs with comparable ex-situ and in-situ methodologies.
• Rainforest Trust: Conservation NGO focused on purchasing and protecting threatened habitats, particularly rainforests critical for amphibian biodiversity. Complementary to AArk's species-rescue model—habitat protection reduces the need for ex-situ intervention.
• Association Mitsinjo: Madagascar-based conservation NGO that received AArk's first grant in 2009 to establish a captive breeding facility for Malagasy amphibians. Operates ex-situ programs for 11 Malagasy frog species—a direct operational peer for AArk's grant-funded model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AmphibianArk/podcasts
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmphibianArk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/company/amphibian-ark
• Instagraminstagram.com/amphibianark
• Xx.com/Amphibian_Ark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Amphibian Ark