Northwest Amphibian Recovery Project
Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa)
Declared endangered in Washington State.
Threats: Fragmentation and loss of wetland habitat, invasive species (including bullfrogs), and disease.
Recovery plan: Give frogs a headstart by raising them in captivity until they have completed metamorphosis from tadpole to frog, giving them a better chance to escape predators. Frog eggs are collected in late winter and young frogs are released in early fall.
Partners: Woodland Park Zoo, Oregon Zoo, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Mountain View Conservation Center, Vancouver Aquarium, Greater Vancouver Zoo, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and British Columbia Ministry of the Environment. Start-up funding for Woodland Park Zoo’s Oregon spotted frog headstarting program provided by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Conservation Endowment Fund.
Butterflies of the Northwest
Oregon Silverspot (Speyeria zerene hippolyta)
Declared federally threatened in 1980.
Threats: Loss of grassland habitat; in particular its preferred food, the early blue violet (Viola adunca).
Recovery plan: Give butterflies a headstart by raising eggs in captivity until they are ready to change from pupae to adult butterfly; then release them into a protected area on the Oregon Coast. WPZ staff and volunteers grow early blue violet plants so that larvae and pupae have their favorite food to eat.
Partners: Woodland Park Zoo, Oregon Zoo, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, and Lewis and Clark College.
Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project
Western Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata)
Declared endangered in Washington State in 1993.
Threats: Disturbance and loss of wetland habitat, introduced predators (especially the bullfrog), and disease.
Recovery plan: Give turtles a headstart by raising hatchlings in captivity until they are too large to be eaten by bullfrogs and then release them into protected areas in Washington state. Turtles eggs are collected in the fall and youngsters are released the following summer. The population has increased from 150 in 1990 to over 1400 today.
Partners: Woodland Park Zoo, Oregon Zoo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.