VIDEO: Horned Lizards Hatch At San Antonio Zoo – You Won’t Believe How Small They Are!
Must-watch video! The San Antonio Zoo has successfully hatched 71 Texas horned lizards and is celebrating a fruitful breeding season. 🌐 #News #SanAntonioTX #Texas #Animals
SAN ANTONIO, TX – The San Antonio Zoo on Tuesday announced the successful hatching of 71 Texas horned lizards with seven more eggs still incubating, as well as a successful breeding season at conservation partner Zoo Miami, which hosts a satellite colony.
Also known as the horny toad, the Texas horned lizard was once widespread across Texas, but population numbers have declined significantly due to habitat loss and invasive species, according to the San Antonio Zoo, which launched the Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project in 2017. Since then, the zoo’s Center for Conservation & Research has been able to released 208 Texas horned lizards into the wild.
“We’re honored to be part of this crucial project,” Andy Gluesenkamp, Director of Conservation at CCR, said in a statement.
“Landowners and resource managers are essential partners in conserving the Texas horned lizard, a keystone species. Our success relies on public support, and we’re proud of our achievements so far.”
In 2020, the San Antonio Zoo partnered with Zoo Miami to create a satellite colony, ensuring increased egg production while mitigating the risk of losing one colony or the other. Now, Zoo Miami is celebrating its first successful breeding season with eight new hatchlings and about six more anticipated.
“Conservation does not happen without collaboration,” said Ryan Zach, Zoo Miami Animal Care Manager.
“The opportunity to release animals back into the wild is a dream for most zookeepers, and to do it with such an iconic species while working side by side with the dedicated team at San Antonio Zoo, is a perfect example of that dream coming true for our team at Zoo Miami!”
The San Antonio Zoo uses Geographic Information System data, genetic research, and horned lizard ecology to select and populate suitable habitats with the zoo-hatched lizards.
To monitor the horned lizards after their release, the zoo has partnered with Chiron K9’s Texas Horned Lizard Detection Canine Network, whose specially trained dogs can track the lizards.
“The success of the Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project is a true testament to the power of collaborative conservation efforts,” said Tim Morrow, President and CEO of San Antonio Zoo.
“We are incredibly proud of the dedication shown by our team and partners at Zoo Miami. Together, we are making a significant impact on the future of this beloved species, and it’s inspiring to see such positive results.”
Written by TMX staff, with additional reporting by Jack and Kitty Norton. Video Credit: San Antonio Zoo / TMX. Music Credit: Written and Performed by Jack and Kitty Norton (Norton Family Publishing, ASCAP).
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