Hundreds of tiny, spotted amphibians are making a big splash in the name of newt conservation.
The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens’ Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation (OCIC), Coastal Plains Institute, and partners recently released 644 striped newts within the Apalachicola National Forest as part of their mission to re-establish the threatened species into its former range.
282 of those striped newts were hatched and raised at the Zoo’s OCIC.
Striped newts hatched at the OCIC are reintroduced in regions where historic populations have disappeared. Extant populations are estimated to occur in only nine ponds in Georgia and 106 ponds in Florida.
The OCIC, along with other partners including the Amphibian Foundation and Jacksonville Zoo participated in the release by breeding newts under human care for release into the wild. This brings the project total number of releases to 6,780 (larvae and adults).
Striped newts face many threats, from fire and drought to vehicle impacts and habitat loss. This release is part of continued efforts to combat the challenges faced by these amphibians.
The striped newt population in the Apalachicola National Forest (ANF) declined to undetectable levels in the early 2000s. This severe decline instigated the coordination of the Coastal Plains Institute with the US Forest Service to create a self-sustaining striped newt population in the ANF. The goal is to bring the striped newt back to an area that once harbored one of the largest populations in the world. Since that time, this project has grown to include many agencies, zoos, and organizations, including the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens.
In addition to the striped newt program, the OCIC is the only captive breeding facility for the eastern indigo snake. Through the OCIC’s research and breeding efforts, snakes hatched under the team’s care are reintroduced back to their natural habitats. The sole purpose is releasing the offspring into regions where historic populations have disappeared. Working with partners, the group has released more than 300 snakes to date at The Nature Conservancy’s Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve in Bristol and Alabama’s Conecuh National Forest.
For more information about the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation (OCIC), click here.
