My name is Joshua Ralph, I am 25 years old and I am a Batrachologist (Work in the study of Amphibia species), Conservationist and Zoo Keeper.

It all started when I was a young boy where I would spend every single opportunity I could, reading, watching documentaries and going out to find native Amphibia species to the UK. I had an ever increasing interest in the area of Herpetology and Animalia in general and studied/researched as much as possible, which eventually lead to me keeping animals at home from the age of 7 starting with my favourite genus of animals, Mantella frogs.

I have worked incredibly hard over the years, and completed many courses at several Colleges and Relevant Organisations, from the age of 16 including the following -

* BTEC First Diploma in Animal Management

* C&G NVQL2 in Animal Management

* DWA Venomous Animal First Aid Course

* DWA Venomous Handling Course

* C&G L3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management

* C&G Advanced Work Based Apprenticeship in Animal Management

Since my early teens, I have been working in several collections as either a voluntary or paid keeper and after completing my final course in Further Education, I became a Keeper/Technician at the BIAZA collection at Sparsholt College, Hampshire. Where, I worked not only in the husbandry field of Herpetology, but also the conservation of some amazing and highly endangered species of Reptilia, Chelonia, Amphibia and Arthropoda.

During my time working and studying at various establishments, I have had the opportunity to visit some amazing and simply remarkable including areas of South Africa, North Africa, Eastern Europe, North America and South-east Asia. But no where as magical as the island that I have been dreaming of visiting, ever since I started keeping animals. Madagascar, which I travelled and stayed for 3 months in, working in the conservation of the Amphibia endemic to only the island, including my passion, Mantella.

I am also a Free-lance Journalist for many different media publications including Practical Reptile Keeping Magazine and several more. I am also the Creator and Founder of Amphibian Keepers Forum© and Moderator on several forums such as FrogForum.net.

I have been keeping Herptile species since the age of 7, however found my passion of Amphibia at the age of ten and have specialised in the area of Batrachology ever since, especially with Malagasy Amphibia species such as the Mantella and Scaphiophyrne genera. I also have a very keen interest in Wildlife and Animal Photography where I photograph my personal collection.