An assurance population
Conserving a species away from its habitat so it can return.
In 2008, the team helped establish the Sierra de Guadarrama Conservation Breeding Centre for Threatened Amphibians after an outbreak nearly eliminated the common midwife toad from the area.
The centre maintains a captive colony of around two hundred animals. This assurance population provides individuals for reintroduction within the park.
The colony also supports research into the impact of chytridiomycosis and the testing of measures to reduce its effects.
Ex situ conservation safeguards the possibility of return.
Breeding, research and reintroduction form a single long-term recovery programme.
