The California native southern mountain yellow-legged frog narrowly escaped extinction thanks to efforts by local organizations

In 2001, the federal government estimated that a total of 79 adult southern mountain yellow-legged frogs lived in the wild. Now, the Los Angeles Zoo, in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Aquarium of the Pacific, has successfully bred and released almost 7,000 of these frogs into the wild.

In the latest milestone, the organizations released more than 650 adults into the San Gabriel Mountains between August 19 and 27 of this year, according to a statement released by the L.A. Zoo.

The frogs are bred at the L.A. Zoo’s southern mountain yellow-legged frog breeding program and are then relocated to controlled environments that aim to mimic their natural habitat. Of the recently released 650, 394 were transported to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. Staff from both the zoo and aquarium aided in releasing the bred frogs into the San Gabriel Mountains this August.

“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,” said Byron Wusstig, Curator of Ectotherms, L.A. Zoo, in a statement.

Animal keepers (L–R) Konin T., Sam A., and Suzie H. with adult southern mountain yellow-legged frogs in headstarting facility at L.A. ZooCredit: Photo Courtesy of L.A. Zoo

The zoo began repopulation efforts back in 2006, with Long Beach’s aquarium joining in 2021 after the 2020 Bobcat Fire burned down almost all of the frogs’ habitat in the San Gabriel Mountains. The UGGS was able to rescue 130 frogs from the fire.

With this recent batch of adults released, the Aquarium of the Pacific has now helped raise and release 1,032 of these frogs, they said in a statement.

“We have been looking forward to releasing this cohort of frogs back into the wild,” said Erin Lundy, the Aquarium’s conservation initiatives manager. “The more frogs there are in their native habitat, the more of a chance we have to increase their survival.”

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Additionally, the Aquarium of the Pacific expanded conservation efforts today, after taking in over 200 olive ridley sea turtle eggs from Seal Beach and Huntington Beach. These marked the first time a sea turtle nested on a Southern California beach; however, the eggs had to be relocated due to recent storm warnings in the area.

The southern mountain yellow-legged frog is a California native species. Its conservation status is considered endangered as of today, which is an improvement from its previous critically endangered status. Their habitats are inland in the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto mountains.

The L.A. Zoo, Aquarium of the Pacific, and USGS will continue breeding and repopulation efforts. Later this month, approximately 112 tadpoles are expected to be transported from the L.A. Zoo to the Santa Ana Zoo to be raised. Other entities aiding include the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Biologists release southern mountain yellow-legged frogs into streams of the San Gabriel MountainsCredit: Photo Courtesy of L.A. Zoo