Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium has shipped 10,500 critically endangered Puerto Rican crested toad toad tadpoles to Rio Encantado-Ciales for reintroduction to the wild.
Puerto Rican crested toads are the only toads native to Puerto Rico and for the past 35 years, the species has been on a survival plan as the population ranged from 300 to 3,000 in the wild.
There were four breeding pairs, instead of the typical one, at the Zoo and staff was able to increase fertility by injecting hormones. Additionally, the Zoo's population of the species was genetically viable and more diverse.
The eggs hatched on July 3 and 80 tadpoles are staying in Omaha to strengthen the species' North American population.
