{"id":481068,"date":"2026-10-30T04:40:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T04:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/481068\/"},"modified":"2026-10-30T04:40:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T04:40:17","slug":"san-antonio-zoo-conservation-program-releases-more-texas-horned-lizards-into-the-wild","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/481068\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio Zoo conservation program releases more Texas horned lizards into the wild"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Texas horned lizard\u2019s population has been in decline for six decades due to a variety of factors. Credit: Courtesy Photo \/ San Antonio Zoo<\/p>\n

The Texas horned lizard, the state\u2019s official reptile, has been disappearing from its native range for six decades. <\/p>\n

On Monday, conservationists released 55 more into the wild.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The release was carried out by the Center for Conservation and Research at San Antonio Zoo and its partner, Zoo Miami. It\u2019s the latest action by the Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project, an effort the zoo\u2019s conservation center has led since 2017. <\/p>\n

Monday\u2019s release brings the total number of animals reintroduced to the wild to 428.<\/p>\n

The Texas horned lizard has been the state reptile since 1993, but its population has been in decline due to habitat loss, pesticides and invasive species such as red imported fire ants, according to San Antonio Zoo officials.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor so many Texans, the horny toad is a special part of growing up in this state,\u201d Tim Morrow, president and CEO of San Antonio Zoo, said in a statement. \u201cSeeing these animals return to the wild is a reminder of why conservation matters.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"\"San Antonio Zoo workers and friends release Texas horned toads into the wild. Credit: Courtesy Photo \/ San Antonio Zoo<\/p>\n

Zoo researchers have previously documented the survival of released lizards, along with signs that they may be reproducing and expanding beyond the release site.<\/p>\n

Of the 55 animals released, two were born and raised at San Antonio Zoo, 28 were rescued from a Texas ranch earlier this year, and 25 came from Zoo Miami. The release follows another earlier this month involving 24 horned lizards.<\/p>\n

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