California releases more than 3,000 endangered mountain frogs into the wild

Mountain yellow-legged frog. Image Credit: US Fish & Wildlife Service More than 3,000 endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs and tadpoles have been released into California’s mountain ranges in 2026, giving a once widespread amphibian another chance to survive in the wild. The reintroduction, carried out by the ‘San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’ and its partners, is part of a long-running effort to rebuild populations of a species that has suffered a dramatic decline. The tiny frogs have been returned to high-elevation habitats in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains. Their release marks another step in a conservation programme that began as a rescue effort and has now returned more than 10,000 mountain yellow-legged frogs to the wild. The work also highlights how carefully managed breeding, monitoring and habitat restoration can help endangered wildlife regain a foothold in its native home.How are 3,000 frogs being returned to the Californian mountainsThe latest releases are part of a conservation breeding and reintroduction programme led by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. According to PEOPLE, more than 3,000 mountain yellow-legged frogs and tadpoles have been rei...