Gopher Frog Release 2021

In the murky bayou of south Mississippi lived a species of frog whose population was in steep decline. The dusky gopher frog is a critically endangered frog species that lives in the swampy wetlands of south Mississippi. The future looked grim for its survival, that is until the Memphis Zoo research team intervened.

In 2001, Dr. Steve Reichling of the Memphis Zoo decided to step in to save this frog from extinction. Dr. Reichling and his team of research specialists began by establishing a stable population of dusky gopher frogs at the Memphis Zoo. The ultimate goal of this program was to establish a new population of gopher frogs in the wild using the captive-bred individuals. In 2017, the zoo began releasing frogs from their captive bred population into two shallow ponds within a protected area called Ward Bayou. Over the last five years, the Memphis Zoo, along with many partner organizations, has released over 4,000 juvenile frogs and nearly 4,000 tadpoles into the longleaf pine ecosystem. In the last year, the Zoo’s research team has confirmed that our zoo-bred frogs have begun breeding naturally. This is a remarkable discovery as it is the next step in building a sustainable population around these ponds.

Allison Bogisich, a Research Technician at the Memphis Zoo, leading the frog releases in Mississippi

The dusky gopher frog program is important to conservation not only for helping to save this species from extinction, but also by illustrating the importance and value of zoos in preserving the wild ecosystems. Zoos have long been known for their skill in breeding and in maintaining captive populations. This program elegantly displays how, through their expertise and resources, zoos can also significantly contribute to saving a species in the wild.