LA JOLLA, CA — Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography opened a new exhibit Friday spotlighting the conservation and recovery of the critically endangered mountain yellow-legged frog.
“Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog” immerses visitors in a fictional California mountainside designed to highlight the amphibian’s habitat, the threats it faces and ongoing conservation efforts, according to the aquarium.
The exhibit opens with a re-created forest made of reclaimed and reused materials. Credit: Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
The exhibit allows guests to explore the forest, meadow and lake environments while learning about the decades-long effort to restore Southern California mountain habitats and reintroduce the species into the wild.
The exhibit opens with a recreated forest made of reclaimed and reused materials. The space has an interactive floor projection with all three stages of the frog included — eggs, tadpoles and adult frogs.
The new installation also features some of Birch Aquarium’s own mountain yellow-legged frogs.
An endangered mountain yellow-legged frog leaps into its new home after being released into the lake. Credit: Photo: Birch Aquarium at Scripps | Alex Feltes
Birch Aquarium joined the conservation effort in 2024, building on a recovery program that began in 2006. The aquarium raised more than 200 frogs from tadpoles to adults and released them into a wildlife preserve in summer 2025, marking its first-ever species reintroduction, officials said.
The aquarium is currently raising another cohort of frogs as part of an ongoing project led by the San Diego Zoo, a spokesperson told Patch.
“The return of the mountain yellow-legged frog took decades,” said Robert Raad, senior exhibit designer at Birch Aquarium.
“People with a clear vision worked to restore Southern California’s mountain habitats — believing they could be healthier, more resilient, and full of life. Imagine a place where endangered plants and animals thrive,” Raad said. “We designed this space to let guests wander through that world — uncovering the dedication and perseverance that brought it back.”
“Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog” replaces “Meditation Ocean: Aquarius Reef Base,” which opened in November and closed Feb. 22.
The new exhibit will run until March 2027, a spokesperson told Patch. The exhibit is included with general admission.
Birch Aquarium is located at 2300 Expedition Way in La Jolla. The aquarium opens at 9 a.m. daily, with closing hours varying by day.