Amphibian disease in the UK

Worldwide one third of all amphibian species are thought to be threatened with extinction and many others face severe population declines. Habitat loss is the main cause of declines worldwide, but there is growing concern surrounding the threats posed by infectious disease. 

In the UK, frogs, toads and newts can suffer from a number of ailments and diseases, some of them fatal. In addition there are some non-native diseases around which there is cause for some concern.

Froglife encourage people to identify the cause of any amphibian death they come across so that outbreaks of more concerning diseases are not overlooked. Every dead amphibian matters...

HELP OUT: During the summer months of 2008 Froglife is appealing for specimens of amphibians which have died for any reason - disease or otherwise.  If you are willing to help out (this will mean storing dead amphibians in your freezer) please get in touch for more information.

• Found a dead amphibian? - get identifying!
  
  

• Chytrid fungus: what you need to know about this increasingly concerning fungal disease.
  
  

• What is Ranavirus? (sometimes mis-termed 'red-leg') - information for garden-owners on this disease common to some areas in summer months.
  
  

• Frog Mortality Project: Find out more about this ground-breaking project coordinated with our partners the Institute of Zoology, London.
  

• Frog Mortality Questionnaire: If you have come across suspected cases of ranavirus in your garden we want to hear from you.

Froglife is a registered charity (no.1093372) concerned with the protection and conservation of native herpetofauna in the wild. All photos on this website are (C) Froglife unless stated and should not be reproduced without permission. To see Froglife's Privacy Policy please click here.

Elsewhere on www.froglife.org

• Find out about Froglife's Ponds for Life Project.

• Take action for amphibians and reptiles! 

• Discover how your business can contribute to Froglife's work.