Detroit Zoo Sends Thousands of Critically Endangered Puerto Rican Crested Toad Tadpoles for Release to the Wild
June 4, 2026
Press Release
Detroit Zoo Sends Thousands of Critically Endangered Puerto Rican Crested Toad Tadpoles for Release to the Wild
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (June 2, 2026) – The Detroit Zoo recently helped give thousands of Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles a new start in the wild, sending 6,855 tadpoles to be released at Rio Encantado, a rainforest area in Manati, Puerto Rico.
This effort is part of the longest-running amphibian reintroduction program in the world to help recover the Puerto Rican crested toad, a critically endangered amphibian found only in Puerto Rico. Through specialized animal care, collaboration and conservation expertise, the Detroit Zoological Society is helping protect a species whose future depends on action both in its native habitat and from conservation partners around the world, including right here in southeast Michigan.
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“Each of these tadpoles represents a lot of care, coordination and hope,” said Mark Vassallo, curator of amphibians for the Detroit Zoological Society. “For our team, it’s incredibly meaningful to know that work happening here at the Detroit Zoo can help support the future of a species in Puerto Rico. Amphibians are facing serious challenges globally, and efforts like this show how zoos and the communities that support them can play an important role in protecting vulnerable wildlife.”
Puerto Rican crested toads rely on healthy habitat and temporary freshwater pools to breed, making conservation efforts especially important. By supporting tadpole releases, the Detroit Zoo is contributing to a larger effort to strengthen wild populations and protect an important part of Puerto Rico’s native biodiversity. In addition to this most recent release, the Detroit Zoo has raised and released 143,195 tadpoles to date as part of this important conservation program.
The work also reflects the Detroit Zoological Society’s commitment to conservation that reaches beyond southeast Michigan. While the release will take place thousands of miles from Royal Oak, it is made possible in part by the expertise, care and support rooted here in the Detroit Zoo community. For guests and supporters, the effort offers a meaningful connection to a global story of wildlife protection, partnership and hope.
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About the Detroit Zoological Society: The Detroit Zoological Society – a renowned leader in wildlife conservation, animal welfare, environmental sustainability and humane education – operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center. One of Michigan’s largest paid family attractions, the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak hosts more than 1.2 million visitors annually. Its 125 acres are home to more than 2,000 animals representing more than 200 species. The Belle Isle Nature Center sits on a 5-acre site on Belle Isle State Park in Detroit. For hours, prices, directions and other information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit detroitzoo.org.
