Detroit Zoo Releases 2,000 Puerto Rican Crested Toads - Page 2

Knoxter · #1 04-20-2009, 11:15 AM

Detroit Zoo Releases 2,000 Puerto Rican Crested Toads

ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 27, 2008 – In 2008 Year of the Frog, the Detroit Zoo continues to be a leader among U.S. zoos in the conservation of endangered amphibians. Its most recent success is the breeding and release of 2,000 Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles into the wild.

The Zoo has been working to preserve the critically endangered Puerto Rican crested toad (Bufo lemur) since 1999. The tadpoles were released in Gabia, Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, where last year’s tadpoles are now thriving.

“We’re very excited about placing zoo-born animals back into the wild,” said Associate Curator of Amphibians Becky Johnson. “We are delivering on our mission of celebrating and saving wildlife by helping to establish a new population of amphibians in their natural environment.”

In addition, the Detroit Zoo has launched another successful breeding season for the federally endangered Wyoming toad, recently sending 17 newly metamorphosed toadlets and 52 tadpoles back to Wyoming for release into the Laramie River Basin.

The Wyoming toad (Bufo baxteri) was listed as extinct in the wild in 1994. The Zoo has been successfully producing healthy toadlets since 1997, and its breeding program for the species was No. 1 on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) list of the Top 10 wildlife conservation success stories for 2007.

Also, the Detroit Zoo has successfully bred the endangered Texas blind salamander (Eurycea rathbuni) for the sixth time since 2000. The Zoo is one of only three institutions in North America to house the species, which is found in the wild only in San Marcos, Texas. As the name suggests, the cave-dwelling amphibian lacks functioning eyes.

More than a third of the planet’s 6,000 amphibian species are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, climate change, pollution, pesticides, introduced species, over-collection and infectious diseases.

Year of the Frog is a global public awareness campaign to focus attention on endangered amphibians and the critical work being done by zoos and aquariums to save them. The Detroit Zoological Society is supporting the worldwide initiative with special events, fundraising activities, educational opportunities and community outreach efforts throughout the year.

The Detroit Zoo is home to the nationally award-winning National Amphibian Conservation Center (NACC), a state-of-the-art facility situated on a two-acre wetland village called Amphibiville. The NACC features a spectacular diversity of amphibians, including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians. The Wall Street Journal once dubbed the attraction “Disneyland for toads.”

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October (open at 9:30 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. For more information, call (313) 852-4056.

Source: Detroit Zoo.org

Photo Courtesy of Dr Paddy Ryan Contents

atlfrog · 05-01-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knoxter

Hey GA,

I agree with you. I believe that as the word gets out about how declining amphibian populations are a direct reflection of how we are destroying the environment, more folks will start to pay attention to frog conservation efforts.
As for ABG, visiting that place is very high on my "To Do" list. I am so pissed I Frog Day when t was in ATL. I hear, that was the one to be at. I remember when Ron used to be just the Reptile and Amphibian curator, now, I think he Runs the whole show, and is the curator of the entire ABG.
I had a talk with one of the other members on the phone today and we were talking about how we both had been out of the hobby for a few years and since our return many of the frogs that were common place many years ago, are all together gone now, or very expensive to obtain. Like the chocolate brown tricolor with the lime green stripes.
(similar to the ones offered for sale on Herpetologic.net)

These used to be like $15. Now I cannot find them anywhere, or anyone that has them.

I sure hope everyone in the hobby is making every effort to keep their frogs healthy and happy.

LOL That frog isn't gone from the hobby entirely. There are a few people who are not saying that they have them. I just happen to know a few of those people and they will not sell them to me. No matter what price I throw at them. People aren't selling them that often or if at all, it is like the Blue Jean Pumilio. There are more out there than you think, but people just hoard them and do not want to sell or share. Now in regards to pricing, well I agree with the hike increase because if no one else is selling them then why should I sell them for $15. Screw that!

With the efforts of AmphibianArk.org and other infamous groups conservation is now world wide because of year of the frog but it is just not enough.

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