Article about the global amphibian-pet trade and its risks like over-exploitation of surtain populations / species, biological invasions ( more then 100 species known with eral populations ) and spread of diseases : Global pet trade in amphibians is bigger than we thought
I may be provocative, but I would regard pet keeping as an opportunity to grow an amateur movement contributing to study and conservation of amphibians, not as a threat. Amphibians are chronically understudied, underfunded and ignored. Enthusiasts could contribute here, a bit in parallel to a community of bird-watchers contributing to protection of birds. Trapping for pet trade may contribute to decline of some species, but amphibians can be bred in collections in large numbers (e.g. Zagroz newt) and the community can be policed (like e.g. community of bird watchers managed to police itself not to photograph birds at nests). This is not a quick or easy task. But actions like a country banning keeping any reptile pet because of danger to few species is against the spirit of a sane public policy.
I don't think taking amphibians from the wild is bad as long as the ones taken are used to produce offspring that can be sold to other people interested in the species. Then they can be kept around without having to take more from the wild. I've only got an Axolotl, White's Tree-Frog, and Eastern American Toad, but I would like to get more species and produce more CBB babies.