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Not just humans are fighting pandemics. Citizen Conservation called together a team of experts that are now formulating recommendations for prophylactic actions against plagues and epidemics.

Recommendations published for the import of live amphibians into the EU

Since the Corona pandemic, the problem of the sudden appearance of infectious diseases has become deeply rooted in general consciousness. But not just humans struggle with this. Since the spring, fire salamanders have been dying because of the ‘salamander eater’, the highly infectious fungus plague BSal. Probably originating from Asia, the fungus has been spreading continuously in the border triangle of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany over the past years. Wherever it occurs, it wipes out entire populations. With its spread of over 500 km, the threat has become much more acute. The BSal is part of a group of fungi that are especially dangerous, even deadly, for amphibians – frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. These fungi were spread to all parts of the world by humans in the 1980s and have completely exterminated dozens of species.

Everyone working towards the same goal

Through the Citizen Conservation initiative, numerous leading amphibian researchers, together with zoo representatives, animal breeders, and veterinarians, have now presented recommendations on how the spread of pathogens through amphibian imports into the EU can be prevented in the future.

Practical propositions

The necessary measures are practical and easy to execute. The most important point is the compulsory quarantine under the supervision of a veterinarian. During this time, the animals can be tested for the amphibian fungi. At the same time, through this supervision, the spread of other and even unknown pathogens can be prevented. When considering certain important aspects, such a quarantine can be very helpful and even quite easy.

Secure import

According to specialists, the import of amphibians is necessary for the future of research and species conservation. Responsible private enthusiasts also often dedicate themselves to breeding these atypical pets with great commitment – and thus often collect significant scientific knowledge in the meantime.

To ensure maximum protection of the indigenous amphibian populations in the wild and in human care without hindering these important activities, all relevant political players are now working together in an unusual cooperation to provide concrete solutions for the regulation of the import of amphibians into the EU.

Team of amphibian experts - during a workshop at the Technical University in Brunswick, representatives of the key players on the question of importing live amphibians came together, invited by Citizen Conservation. The result is now available in the form of recommendations for political action. (back row, from left to right: Anton Weissenbacher, Tiergarten Schönbrunn Zoo, Vienna; Jan-Peter Greve (German Association of Aquariums and Terrariums, VDA), Prof. Dr. Tobias Eisenberg (Landesbetrieb Hessisches Landeslabor, Gießen, LHL), Dr. Eberhard Scheidung (Veterinarian), Volker Ennenbach (Das Tropenparadies), Jürgen Hoch (Import-Export Peter Hoch), Matthias Jurczyk (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde, DGHT), Prof. Dr. Stefan Lötters (Trier University), Björn Encke (Frogs & Friends), Heiko Werning (Citizen Conservation), Prof. Dr. Miguel Vences (Technical University Brunswick), PD Dr. Mark-Oliver Rödel (Museum for Natural History Berlin) | Citizen Conservation
Team of amphibian experts - during a workshop at the Technical University in Brunswick, representatives of the key players on the question of importing live amphibians came together, invited by Citizen Conservation. The result is now available in the form of recommendations for political action. (back row, from left to right: Anton Weissenbacher, Tiergarten Schönbrunn Zoo, Vienna; Jan-Peter Greve (German Association of Aquariums and Terrariums, VDA), Prof. Dr. Tobias Eisenberg (Landesbetrieb Hessisches Landeslabor, Gießen, LHL), Dr. Eberhard Scheidung (Veterinarian), Volker Ennenbach (Das Tropenparadies), Jürgen Hoch (Import-Export Peter Hoch), Matthias Jurczyk (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde, DGHT), Prof. Dr. Stefan Lötters (Trier University), Björn Encke (Frogs & Friends), Heiko Werning (Citizen Conservation), Prof. Dr. Miguel Vences (Technical University Brunswick), PD Dr. Mark-Oliver Rödel (Museum for Natural History Berlin) | Citizen Conservation
The indigenous Fire Salamander is threatened by a new fungus from Asia | Benny Trapp
The indigenous Fire Salamander is threatened by a new fungus from Asia | Benny Trapp
salamander eater
salamander eater
Fire Salamander stricken with the new skin fungus | Frank Pasmans, Gent University
Fire Salamander stricken with the new skin fungus | Frank Pasmans, Gent University
Hong Kong Warty Newts used to be imported often to Europe for animal trade. A team of experts is now demanding a mandatory quarantine for such imports in order to prevent the introduction of diseases. | Frank Pasmans, Gent University
Hong Kong Warty Newts used to be imported often to Europe for animal trade. A team of experts is now demanding a mandatory quarantine for such imports in order to prevent the introduction of diseases. | Frank Pasmans, Gent University
The Demonic Poison Frog is a poison dart frog from Venezuela close to extinction. The only chance for its survival likely depends on its reproduction in conservation breeding projects in human custody. A sweeping import ban for living amphibians would render these efforts impossible. | Benny Trapp, Frogs & Friends
The Demonic Poison Frog is a poison dart frog from Venezuela close to extinction. The only chance for its survival likely depends on its reproduction in conservation breeding projects in human custody. A sweeping import ban for living amphibians would render these efforts impossible. | Benny Trapp, Frogs & Friends
Frogs like this Blue Poison Dart Frog are very popular among dedicated private keepers. A professionally conducted quarantine after import would prevent the introduction of diseases through these beautiful creatures. | Benny Trapp, Frogs & Friends
Frogs like this Blue Poison Dart Frog are very popular among dedicated private keepers. A professionally conducted quarantine after import would prevent the introduction of diseases through these beautiful creatures. | Benny Trapp, Frogs & Friends
A properly implemented quarantine in appropriately equipped facilities minimizes the risk of introducing amphibian diseases | Benny Trapp
A properly implemented quarantine in appropriately equipped facilities minimizes the risk of introducing amphibian diseases | Benny Trapp
At Citizen Conservation, zoos and private keepers work together to save amphibians threatened by extinction through conservation breeding (pictured here Doris Preininger and Thomas Wampula from Vienna Zoo in front of an aquarium for the critically endangered Lake Pátzcuaro Salamander). The import of living amphibians has to remain possible also to keep projects such as this one running. | Benny Trapp, Frogs & Friends
At Citizen Conservation, zoos and private keepers work together to save amphibians threatened by extinction through conservation breeding (pictured here Doris Preininger and Thomas Wampula from Vienna Zoo in front of an aquarium for the critically endangered Lake Pátzcuaro Salamander). The import of living amphibians has to remain possible also to keep projects such as this one running. | Benny Trapp, Frogs & Friends
The introduction of amphibian plagues can be prevented through professional handling (pictured here is Anna Rauhaus, animal keeper at Cologne Zoo) | Benny Trapp, Frogs & Friends
The introduction of amphibian plagues can be prevented through professional handling (pictured here is Anna Rauhaus, animal keeper at Cologne Zoo) | Benny Trapp, Frogs & Friends
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Import recommendations and image download

You can find the recommendations for the import of live amphibians into the EU here and download all photos from our download page.

Policy Paper
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