Justin Elden News Today

Hellbenders are continuing to reproduce in the Ozarks.

GASCONADE RIVER, Mo. – Roughly a year after a zoo-raised Ozark hellbender successfully fathered a clutch of eggs in the wild, an eastern hellbender has followed suit.

A groundbreaking program to re-populate Missouri streams with hellbender salamanders is showing signs of success.

A Belleville zookeeper will prepare them to eventually be released into the wild.

A male Ozark hellbender was raised at the St. Louis Zoo and released into the Current River in July 2019. Researchers found it protecting128 eggs in October and a later visit confirmed the eggs had hatched.

An endangered Ozark hellbender raised by the Saint Louis Zoo has successfully reproduced within the Current River.

The male Ozark hellbender was raised at the St. Louis Zoo and released into the Current River in July 2019. Researchers found 128 eggs in October, and a later visit confirmed the eggs had hatched.

The Ozark hellbender was added to the federal endangered species list in October 2011.

United States-based researchers visited the territory to learn more about the native Virgin Islands Tree Boa, a rare and little-studied snake.

Missouri conservationists have released into the wild more than 10,000 hellbender salamander, listed as an endangered species since 2003.