The nine mice were given superhero-inspired names, including males Whiskerine, Aqclawman, Conan the Burrowbarian, Pocket Raccoon, Professfur X and Endangered Avenger, as well as females Green Lantail, Doctor Squeak and IncrediBelle.
The mice were introduced into an existing population. Credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
The Pacific pocket mouse was believed to be extinct until a small population was rediscovered in 1993. Since then, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has worked with conservation partners to recover the species, including launching a conservation breeding program in 2012 and conducting managed releases to bolster wild populations.