DENVER (KDVR) — A combined effort by Colorado agencies led to another release of a state-endangered amphibian.
The amphibian and aquatic species experts from the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Southeast Region worked together to breed and release 300 boreal toadlets into a pristine alpine lake near Leadville.
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In a press release, CPW said the release of the state-endangered species happened on July 2, in an effort to boost the population of the boreal toad, which is said to be “one of Colorado’s smallest, but most important, native animals.”
“Breeding boreal toads in captivity is incredibly difficult work. The DCZA has had recent success with this effort, ultimately supporting CPW’s effort to reintroduce the species throughout the state,” said Alex Jouney, CPW southeast region native aquatic species biologist. “This reintroduction supports the most successful attempt with boreal toad repatriation in the Southeast Region, to date.”
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This comes after two releases, one in 2024 and one in 2022, where boreal toad tadpoles were released into high-country wetlands in Colorado.
Why are boreal toads a state-endangered species in Colorado?
DCZA said in the press release that the population decrease is a result of loss habitats and a deadly skin disease caused by chytrid fungus, causing amphibian declines around the world. Noting, less than 800 adult boreal toads are estimated to be in Colorado…