Amphibian pods – a practical rescue facility for amphibians

Insulated shipping containers can make ideal rescue facilities (“pods”) for amphibians. They are:

• relatively inexpensive, often cheaper than new ‘traditional’ construction (see pricing below)
• available everywhere in the world, often as discounted ‘retired’ units that are still fit for our use
• easily modified to meet particular specifications; every major port in the world seems to have a company that specializes in retro-fitting units for other uses (offices, storage, housing, etc.)
• modular, easily placed adjacent to or on top of each other, and so can be added one at a time to increase capacity at a given facility; ideal where space is limited
• mobile and made to be easily transported, so they can be delivered ‘ready-to-go’ to a point of use, or if need be, relocated from one site to another (try doing that with traditional construction!). All they need is a concrete pad to sit on and hookup to the local water and electric supplies.
• the perfect size to house an entire rescue population of an average-sized amphibian
• easily modified to be an attractive exhibit by adding large viewing windows and graphics

The use of insulated shipping containers for housing amphibians was pioneered by Gerry Marantelli at the Amphibian Research Centre (ARC) in Australia. The ARC has modified containers to order and supplied them to other organizations, including, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Taronga Zoo, Chester Zoo, and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

There are a number of organizations around the world that are currently using shipping containers for amphibian conservation programs:

• Amphibian Research Centre, Australia
• Atlanta Botanical Garden, USA
• Central Florida Zoo, USA
• Chester Zoo, UK
• Currumbin Sanctuary, Australia
• Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey/Channel Islands
• EVACC (imminent), Panama
• Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo, Brazil
• Honduras Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center, Honduras
• Macadmaia Castle, Australia
• Centro K’ayra for Research and Conservation of Threatened Amphibians of Bolivia at Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d’Orbigny, Bolivia
• Phoenix Zoo, USA
• Summit Zoo, Panama
• Taronga Zoo, Australia
• Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Australia
• Universidad de Concepción, Chile

Below are some example expenses associated with purchasing and fitting out shipping containers:

• ~US$30,000 for used insulated 8’x8’x40’ (320 ft²) shipping container and modifications to significantly improve the infrastructure and electrical service, upgrade air conditioning unit, add durable/waterproof rubber flooring, etc.
• ~USD$10-15,000 for outfitting the container with everything needed for amphibian husbandry (shelves, tanks, lights, filters, mist system), the range allowing for variation in the level of automation and number and size of tanks, complexity of plumbing, etc.
• ~USD$5,000 to ship it internationally (if point of use is different)
• ~USD$2,000 for installation (pad, utility hookup)
• ~USD$500 for portable generator (backup power is vital)

The AArk does not sell or benefit financially from the sale of these containers. We merely propose that they can be practical in many applications, and our partners are available to discuss their experiences (and vendors) with you.

For more information, please contact: Luis Carrillo (Luis@AmphibianArk.org).

Documents for download

Shipping Containers for Frog and Tadpole Husbandry. P. Harlow, M. McFadden & A. Skidmore. Taronga Zoo, Herpetofauna Division, 2007.

Amphibian pod photo gallery
Images courtesy of C. Banks, Camila Castro, R. Gibson, D. Goodall, B. Gratwicke, B. Greaves, K. Johnson, M. McFadden, Tim Steinmetz. (Click images to enlarge)

Atlanta Botanical Garden, USA	Atlanta Botanical Garden, USA	Atlanta Botanical Garden, USA	Chester Zoo’s small container, UK	Inside Chester Zoo’s small container, UK
External view of Taudactylus container at Currumbin Sanctuary, Australia	Taudactylus container, Currumbin Sanctuary, Australia	Taudactylus container, Currumbin Sanctuary, Australia	Taudactylus container, Currumbin Sanctuary, Australia	Installing an amphibian pod at Summit Zoo, Panama
Inside the new pod at Summit Zoo, Panama	Inside one of the rescue pods at Summit Zoo, Panama	Summit Zoo – lighting and air conditioning, Panama	Inside Summit Zoo’s pod, Panama	Amphibian container at the Amphibian Research Centre, Australia
Corroboree Frog container, Taronga Zoo, Australia	Corroboree Frog container, Taronga Zoo, Australia	Corroboree Frog container, Taronga Zoo, Australia	Corroboree Frog container, Taronga Zoo, Australia	Corroboree Frog container, Taronga Zoo, Australia
Corroboree Frog container, Taronga Zoo, Australia	Melbourne Zoo’s Baw Baw Frog container, Australia	Containers for Baw Baw Frogs, Melbourne Zoo, Australia	Breeding and rearing habitat for Baw Baw Frogs, Melbourne Zoo, Australia	Rearing habitat for Baw Baw Frogs, Melbourne Zoo, Australia
Setting up a container for the Bolivian Amphibian Initiative, Bolivia	Shipping container for Honduras Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center at Henry Doorly Zoo, USA	Alsodes vanzolinii container facilities at the Universidad de Concepción, Chile	Containers for Darwin’s Frogs and Alsodes vanzolinii, Universidad de Concepción, Chile	Exterior of a container at Centro K’ayra for Research and Conservation of Threatened Amphibians of Bolivia at the Alcide d’Orbigny Natural History Museum
Exterior of a container at Centro K’ayra for Research and Conservation of Threatened Amphibians of Bolivia at the Alcide d’Orbigny Natural History Museum	Exterior of a container at Centro K’ayra for Research and Conservation of Threatened Amphibians of Bolivia at the Alcide d’Orbigny Natural History Museum	Interior of a container at Centro K’ayra for Research and Conservation of Threatened Amphibians of Bolivia at the Alcide d’Orbigny Natural History Museum	Interior of a container at Centro K’ayra for Research and Conservation of Threatened Amphibians of Bolivia at the Alcide d’Orbigny Natural History Museum	Interior of a container at Centro K’ayra for Research and Conservation of Threatened Amphibians of Bolivia at the Alcide d’Orbigny Natural History Museum