Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Puerto Rican Crested Toad Program Honored With North American Conservation Award

CONTACT: Jane Ballentine, (301)562-0777 x252

NEW ORLEANS 22 September 2004 — The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) today honored The Puerto Rican Crested Toad Species Survival Plan® (SSP) Conservation Partnership with the North American Conservation Award to 23 zoos and aquariums that participate in cooperatively in this project. Program officials accepted the award at AZA's 80th Annual Conference, meeting here this week.

In 2003, the SSP confirmed that adult toads, released in Puerto Rico over the past 10 years as tadpoles, have returned to SSP constructed ponds in to successfully reproduce for the first time. This multi-institutional conservation program is in its 20th year and includes exemplary partnerships established with in situ partners.

The Puerto Rican crested toad is endemic to Puerto Rico and depends on one pond for breeding with two satellite ponds occasionally used to make up a single metapopulation. The species is listed as threatened and the wild population is estimated to be 300-400 toads. With the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Puerto Rican Department of Natural Resources, 23 AZA-accredited institutions are using the US Fish and Wildlife Recovery Plan and AZA expertise to ensure the survival of this endemic species.

The SSP contributes to the protection of existing populations, the restoration of habitat, the construction of additional ponds to receive captive bred tadpoles, a scientifically managed captive population as a hedge against extinction, island wide education and the resources to deliver education programming, training and transfer of skills and equipment to Puerto Rican partners, funds scientific field research on genetics and habitat use, has organized two strategic planning meetings and a CBSG-led PHVA, and funding and expertise to assist USFWS.

With SSP assistance there are: active education programmes and resources to increase the profile of this little known species; gates and signage to secure the known breeding areas; construction of ponds to increase breeding habitat; and the recent breeding of adult toads released as captive bred tadpoles in ponds constructed by the SSP, USFWS, and PR DNER has increased the known breeding population and established a second metapopulation. In the last 10 years 100,000 tadpoles have been released from collaborating institutions to ponds constructed by the SSP.

The 23 AZA accredited zoos and aquariums that participate in the Puerto Rican Crested Toad SSP are: The Audubon Zoo, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Buffalo Zoological Gardens, Central Florida Zoological Park, Central Park Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Detroit Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, Granby Zoo, Louisville Zoological Garden; Lowry Park Zoo, Miami MetroZoo, Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, Oklahoma City Zoo, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, Saint Louis Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, Sedgwick County Zoo, Toledo Zoo, Toronto Zoo and the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Center.

The North American Conservation Award is presented each year by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association to recognize outstanding dedication to conservation issues and development of natural resources.

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association was founded in 1924 and currently represents 212 accredited zoos and aquariums in North America. AZA's mission is to support membership excellence in conservation, education, science and recreation.

For more information contact Shanna Young at (416) 392-5936 or seyoung@torontozoo.ca.