I interviewed Crystal Mandica who is the Founder of The Amphibian Foundation in Atlanta.
Can you tell us a little about the Amphibian Foundation (AF) and why you started it?
My husband, Mark, and I started it in 2016. Mark was an amphibian conservationist at the. Atlanta Botanical Gardens. When they discontinued the program there were a lot of amphibians that need care and rehabilitation particularly the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander which are critically endangered. We started a non-profit, the Amphibian Foundation, to take care of these. The Frosted Flatwoods Salamander will be extinct in 5 to 10 years and we are the only people with these in captivity. We started caring only for the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander and when we moved to our current location we accumulated more. We have a big room and numerous labs to care for our reptiles and amphibians.Our first mission was to save the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander and it grew from there to our focus on education the public and communities about solutions to the global amphibian extinction crisis.
What are the main problems amphibians are facing?
Habitat loss is the main one. As people spread out habitat is destroyed. The deforestation happening in South America and the Amazon is devastating to the Amphibian population. Acres and acres are destroyed every day. The spread of disease is also an issue. Bacteria and funguses are being introduced that are destroying populations of amphibian, especially in Central and South America. Domestic cats are also a problem, killing tons of frogs and salamanders each year.
What types of amphibians are you trying to conserve at AF?
The Frosted Flatwoods Salamander of course. Striped Newts live mostly in water and are experiencing significant decline in the wild. Gopher Frogs, which are the rarest frogs in Georgia. We take eggs, rear them here at the AF, give them a head start and release the froglets back into the wild.
Have you always loved amphibians and which is your favorite?
I learned about amphibians until I met my husband. One of my favorites is the Emperor Newt.
Can you tell us something about Salamanders that people may not know?
There are several kinds of Salamander. Some have lungs and some don’t. Lungless ones breathe through their skin, for example the Slimy Salamander.
Is there a story about amphibians that you like to tell?
One particular frog that was very important to our family was the Rabb’s Fringe-limbed tree frog. Mark worked with this frog at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. It was the very last known survivor of its species. My youngest son, Anthony, would go with Mark to check on this frog and named him Toughy. National Geographic got word of this last frog and wanted to write a story. They wanted its name and Mark told them they don’t name research animals but his son calls him Toughy. National Geographic did an amazing piece on Toughy. In 2016 Toughy passed away. It was very sad. He was the last of his specie.
What are some simple things people can do to help amphibians?
People can make their yards amphibian and reptile friendly. On our website we have a “Frog Blog” with different articles on how to do this. Please get rid of English Ivy as they cannot traverse through it. Plant native plants. Put in a water source like a simple little pond. Don’t use pesticide or spray for mosquitoes. Mosquitos are a primary food source for may frogs and salamanders.
How does the AF help turtles?
We have a turtle sanctuary on our property. Whenever we get a turtle that has been rehabilitated after injury and is not releasable back into the wild we put it in our turtle sanctuary. We provide what they need here.
Can you tell us something about turtles that people may not know?
If you find a turtle on its back it is in trouble. Please put it back on its feet. An overturned turtle cannot breathe in that position. If a turtle is crossing the road it would be helpful for the turtle if you could safely help it across in the same direction it is going. Turtles have an internal mapping system and will try to nest where they nested the previous year. It a road has been constructed in their area they will try to cross the road.
The AF has a Copperhead Rescue and Advocacy Program. Can you tell us a little about that?
We try to let people know that Copperheads can be dangerous but mostly only when threatened. Most of the time they will bite only when being harassed. Instead of killing a Copperhead, please call AF and they will come and remove it. Snakes keep the ecosystem healthy.
What do you want people to know about snakes and how can they help them?
Snakes are not inherently bad. They are just animals trying to survive. If you spend time with a particular snake you will find that they have their own personalities and will show you what they like and dislike which is very interesting. They play a significant role in the ecosystem.
You have a lot of educational programs at AF. What are some of the most popular ones?
The most popular program for kids is the Critter Camp which we hold for 10 weeks through the summer. For adults the Master Herpetologist Program is very popular. It is an international online course that reaches across the world. We also have the Junior Herpetologist Program for 12 to 17 years olds.
If people want to volunteer and get involved, how do they contact you?
On our website we have a “How You Can Help” section. You can also directly email Crystal at crystal@amphibianfoundation.org. We always need volunteers and help with the animals.