where the age corresponded to formative education. Other polities showed a greater awareness and concern for the threat of climate change, and almost doubled the percentage of respondents in western polities with a close and best friends interested in amphibians. Our survey analysis and literature searches did not rigorously compare the many possible relationship between respondent demographics and cultural factors. Further investigation of the cultural influences affecting public interest, and especially influential individual interest and motivation, is critical to the conservation of amphibians in the longer term (Mccallum & Bury, 2013, data base supplied for further analysis).

One of the greatest benefits of KCBPs may be in addressing the sharp decline in public interest in biodiversity conservation and the environment (Dalisay et al., 2012; Mccallum & Bury, 2013). KCBPs can increase public interest, encourage positive perspectives, and help achieve political goals and engagement through direct and indirect social contacts, based on media literacy expressed through news sources that show the value of KCBPs to the average citizen (Cooper, 2011). The decline in adolescent’s interest in environmental activities (Wray-Lake et al., 2010) shows a need to focus on youth as the upcoming generation of environmentalists. The reasons chosen by our respondents for their first interest in amphibians, along with other surveys (Wray-Lake et al., 2010; Mccallum & Bury, 2013), provide a foundation for ongoing surveys to reveal current attitudes and trends over time.

To reverse cultural alienation from environmental
causes (Gruenewald, 2004; Young et al., 2014),
KCBPs present inclusive strategies that are
effective, self-motivated, satisfying, and

therefore welcoming to public understanding and support (Cooper, 2011; Mccallum & Bury, 2013). The dominating interests of many lobby groups and elites are increasingly excluding average citizens from decision making and therefore the benefits of official policies (Matthes et al., 2010; Gillens & Page, 2014). Conservation initiatives have to be careful that they work with a democratic and inclusive framework. Many organizations including the AArk and Amphibian Survival Alliance are moving toward this direction and is adopting increasingly cost effective and democratic Internet portals for program management. These portals could easily be extended to support KCBPs managed by their societies as affiliated but independent entities.

Journal of Zoological Research V2 • I1 • 2018

A recognition of dis-empowerment was overwhelmingly voiced by most respondents from the generally highly biodiverse non-English speaking other countries, perhaps due to most amphibian conservation policy makers being based in English speaking countries. Disempowerment of non-English speaking countries also included Europe in general, and particularly Germany and Russia, as globally recognized pioneers and achievers in amphibian conservation husbandry and breeding (Zeigler, 2011; Bagaturov et al., 2014; Zeigler et al., 2016). To help address this deficiency, globally directed media including internet sites that concern concerning KCBPs should at least be published in the major global languages.

Dicks et al. (2014) recommend a transparent process for incorporating evidence into policy decisions, where the process of evidence synopsis with expert evaluation provides a clear evidence audit trail, allows rapid response to new policy contexts, and clarifies sources of uncertainty (Guston, 2000). These are currently missing in the formation of some conservation policy where decisions are often underlain by the attitudes and interests of a few peer groups (Campbell, 2012). Any policies concerning KCBPs should embrace keepers globally and democratically in decision making (Carrillo et al., 2015) and include the official recognition of KCBPs.

Conclusion

A global network of KCBPs, managed by their societies could economically save many hundreds of amphibian species from extinction and reduce harvesting pressures on natural populations. Social networks of keepers along with public engagement will help address the declining public interest in conservation and environmental issues and provide a wide range of expertise for policy development. The facilitation of KCBPs must be included into CITES regulations to enable the transport and exchange of listed amphibians. Policies and management plans for KCBPs should be canvassed through the amphibian conservation community for discussion and review to encourage innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to amphibian conservation.

Acknowledgment

We appreciate the contribution of our survey respondents, and the dedication, expertise, time and money put in by amphibian keepers to conserve   amphibian   species   and   to   build   our

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