LA Zoo unleashes hundreds of rare frogs into the wild — to rescue SoCal streams

The animals are loose.

The LA Zoo announced it has released more than 650 endangered frogs into area wilds — as part of an ongoing species conservation effort in Southern California.

Scores of southern mountain yellow-legged frogs were released into streams in their natural habitat in the San Gabriel mountains on two separate days in August, zoo officials said.

All of the frogs were bred in captivity — more than half of them raised inside the zoo’s new bio-secure amphibian headstarting facility.

In total, the zoo has released 7,000 frogs as part of their Southern Mountain Yellow-legged Frog Recovery Program. 

“Seeing our new headstarting facility transition from a concept to a fully operational reality is a monumental milestone for the recovery of the southern mountain yellow-legged frog,” said Byron Wusstig, Curator of Ectotherms at the LA Zoo in a press release.

“By raising these sensitive amphibians in a specialized, temperature-controlled environment, we are significantly increasing their chances of survival. Returning 227 robust frogs to the San Gabriel Mountains is a direct result of this expanded capacity and the tireless dedication of our collaborative team.”

The new headstarting facility is equipped with specialized tanks and life support systems that provide optimal water quality.

This environment allows the zoo to observe the species from the moment they are bred and hatch, giving the tadpoles a “headstart” to grow and reach a robust size before they enter into the wild.

Releasing the frogs at a mature size helps to ensure they are less susceptible to predators and other challenges in the wild, the zoo says.

Southern mountain yellow-legged frogs have been federally listed as endangered since 2002. The medium-sized frogs are notable for their mix of brown and yellow coloring that can also appear grey, red, or greenish-brown with dark spots or splotches, giving them a coat that resembles camoflage.

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The frogs are typically found in streams in Southern California mountain ranges, including the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains. 

Formed in 2018 under the leadership of USGS, the Southern Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog Recovery Program is a collaboration between the LA Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, and several other local zoos and wildlife agencies.

Boosting the frog’s population will benefit other species and ensure clean watersheds in Southern California, the USGS said.

Later in this month, approximately 112 tadpoles bred at the LA Zoo will be transferred to the Santa Ana Zoo for ongoing care. 

You can view the southern mountain yellow-legged frog at the LA Zoo’s Living Amphibian, Invertebrate, and Reptile exhibit.