ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Zoo and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are celebrating the recent 10,000th release of the endangered hellbender salamander back into their native habitat. 

What You Need To Know

  • Since 2008, the St. Louis Zoo has been raising endangered Ozark and eastern hellbenders and releasing them back into Missouri rivers, according to a press release. To date, the Zoo has raised 9,034 Ozark hellbenders and 1,172 eastern hellbenders for a total of 10,206

  • The latest released salamander was let go into Missouri Ozark River Aug. 10 where it was collected as an egg in 2018 by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to be hatched and raised at St. Louis Zoo

  • A total of 811 Ozark and eastern hellbenders raised from eggs are expected to be released in their native Missouri Ozark rivers by the end of summer

Since 2008, the St. Louis Zoo has been raising endangered Ozark and eastern hellbenders and releasing them back into Missouri rivers, according to a press release. To date, the Zoo has raised 9,034 Ozark hellbenders and 1,172 eastern hellbenders for a total of 10,206.

“This is the largest number of animals the Saint Louis Zoo has ever raised in human care and released to the wild and is one of the largest amphibian reintroduction programs in the world,” said Justin Elden, curator of herpetology, Saint Louis Zoo, and director of the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Ron and Karen Goellner Center for Hellbender Conservation. 

“To date, this is the most successful hellbender release program in the country and it would not be possible without collaborative efforts between the Zoo, MDC and other partners over the last 15 years.”

The latest released salamander was let go into Missouri Ozark River Aug. 10 where it was collected as an egg in 2018 by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to be hatched and raised at St. Louis Zoo, according to the press release.

“This particular river means a lot to those of us involved in the conservation of this species, as it’s the same river where the first release occurred in 2008,” said Justin Briggler, Ph.D., MDC State herpetologist. 

A total of 811 Ozark and eastern hellbenders raised from eggs are expected to be released in their native Missouri Ozark rivers by the end of summer. 

“When we began the hellbender conservation program over 20 years ago the idea of returning this many hellbenders into native rivers was a dream goal and almost impossible to imagine at the time,” Briggler said.

“It has been a lot of hard work and dedication from many people and partner conservation organizations, and while we recognize the significance of this milestone, the work is far from over. We will continue to help protect this species from extinction.”  

Last year, more than 1,000 Ozark were hatched at the Zoo.

“Our Zoo animal care professionals are dedicated to caring for this endangered salamander and doing everything we can to help preserve this species,” Elden said.

For more information, click here.