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Over 3,000 Critically Endangered Zoo-Bred Baw Baw Frogs Released Into the Wild

March 17, 2024

Zoos Victoria's successful conservation breeding programme for the Baw Baw frog has resulted in the release of over 3,000 frogs and froglets into the forests of the Baw Baw plateau, in Victoria, Australia.
 

This species is Critically Endangered, with fewer than 500 individuals remaining in the wild, due to habitat loss and the deadly chytridiomycosis disease, caused by the chytrid fungus. The release of zoo-bred animals aims to boost the wild population and is a key part of the collaborative conservation plan for the species.

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Research, Outreach, Field Conservation: Center for Polar Bear Conservation Launched at Saint Louis Zoo

February 1, 2025

A new initiative for the conservation of polar bears has been launched at Saint Louis Zoo!

The new "Center for Polar Bear Conservation" is one of 17 centres created by Saint Louis Zoo Wild Care Institute for the conservation of species and habitats all over the world. The new centre will support multiple activities for the protection of this threatened species, such as research of their movements and behavioural ecology in the wild, mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, and outreach programmes with local communities.

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Zoo-Bred Critically Endangered Desertas Snails Reintroduced Into the Wild in Madeira, Portugal

January 3, 2025

Over 1,300 critically endangered Desertas Island land snails were released into the wild, in the Bugio Island in Madeira, Portugal. Almost driven to extinction by invasive species, these snails are the last of their kind on the planet.

Chester Zoo has successfully bred the species in human care, and has since then sent them to other zoos - Bristol and Beauval - as part of a breeding programme. Reintroducing captive-bred individuals into areas where the invasive species that threaten them were eradicated is a vital part of the conservation strategy for the species.

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Endangered Kulans Reintroduced in Kazakhstan With Support from German Zoo

December 21, 2024

Twenty four kulans were reintroduced into Kazakhastan's Torgai Steppe, part of a larger conservation initiative to reintroduce large herbivores to support biodiversity and ecosystems in the area. This species of wild donkey is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List, and Tiergarten Nürnberg has been supporting local organisations in conservation efforts to re-establish populations of this and other species in the region.

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Captive-Bred ‘Alalā Released Into the Wild on Maui for First Time!

December 6, 2024

For the first time, five ‘alalā or Hawaiian crows were released into the wild, in the forests of Maui, Hawaii. The birds were bred and prepared for reintroduction at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance at Keauhou Bird Conservation Center in Volcano and Maui Bird Conservation Center in Makawao.

 

The species went extinct in the wild in 2002 due to habitat loss, predation and disease. Captive breeding and reintroductions are key components of the conservation strategy for the species.

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