That’s quite a lot! 5,483 animals from 31 taxa, i.e. species or subspecies, now live in Citizen Conservation’s population – as of our six-monthly count on 1 November 2024. They are cared for in 350 keeping facilities. Sometimes, whole series of keepers look after several CC species at the same time. These 350 facilities are spread across 135 private individuals, 39 zoos, 21 schools and 21 others. Behind the latter is a diverse bunch of institutional keepers, specivically seven show aquariums and terrariums, two natural history museums, two universities, two environmental education centres, two nature and species conservation organisations, two companies, two rescue centres and an aquarium/terrarium association as well as a social institution. Citizen Conservation – a cross-section of civil society.

In order to establish a conservation breeding programme that is as stable as possible over 40 years, a certain number of animals and facilities is required, which can be calculated on a scientific basis using population management programmes. These target numbers and the degree of target achievement are shown on each species page of our website and in the table presented here. We have achieved 85-100 % for the Majorca midwife toad (Alytes muletensis), Pátzcuaro transverse toothed newt (Ambystoma dumerilii), Rio Pescado harlequin toad (Atelopus balios), Vietnamese crocodile newt (Tylototriton vietnamensis) and Mangarahara cichlid (Ptychchromis insolitus). With other species, however, we are still at the very beginning, especially as it is not always easy to obtain founder animals for an ex situ population. Little by little, not only the bird builds its nest, but also the gecko or the marsupial frog have a hard time building …

The most spectacular success to date has been achieved with a species that was thought to be extinct just a few years ago. The very pretty Rio Pescado harlequin toad (Atelopus balios), like many other Atelopus species, had disappeared from all known habitats until Ecuadorian researchers rediscovered two populations and took some of the animals into ‘protective custody’. CC imported their offspring to Germany last year and distributed them to three zoos and two private owners. Although the small toads are not exactly easy to breed, CC has already succeeded in breeding them four times – and we have been able to distribute the young animals so well to other interested parties that we have already reached our target numbers after just one year. This is a perfect foundation to ensure the species survives the next 40 years. Provided, of course, that breeding continues to be successful. But in view of our dedicated specialists, we are extremely optimistic!