ZSL London Zoo Opens New Amphibians Exhibit

Fish that ‘walk’ and toads with midwifery skills are just some of the incredible species that will be on show at ZSL London Zoo’s brand new Amphibians exhibit which opens this Saturday.

Amphibians tells the remarkable story of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians, starting with their evolution from “walking” and air-breathing lungfish to the amazing diversity and survival skills they use today.

The only Zoo in Europe to breed Mallorcan midwife toads, where the males carry newly-laid eggs on their back legs until they hatch, ZSL London Zoo monitors these unusual toads closely to learn more about their species, which is threatened in the wild by disease and habitat loss.

As well as getting up close to the animals, visitors will be able to see ZSL London Zoo’s keepers and scientists in action in the Amphibians conservation lab, where they’ll be monitoring toads, salamanders and newts to find out more about them for ZSL’s field conservation projects.

Home to more than 15 different amphibian species including brightly coloured poison dart frogs and aquatic caecilians camouflaged to blend in with the murky waters of their river homes, Amphibians is an exciting redesign of part of ZSL London Zoo’s iconic reptile house which was built in 1927.

Providing a centre for ZSL’s EDGE Amphibians programme, the new exhibit will give visitors an insight into the conservation work of ZSL going on around the world to protect and save amphibians – which are the most endangered group of animals on Earth.