The San Antonio Zoo is on a mission to bring back one of Texas’s most iconic creatures, and the effort may already be making history. Staff at the zoo have been working to breed the Texas horned lizard — affectionately known as the “horny toad” — in what could be a first-of-its-kind conservation achievement, according to a report from the San Antonio Report.
The program involves a creative approach that zoo staff have dubbed “lizard speed dating,” pairing male and female Texas horned lizards in hopes of successful breeding. The species, once a common sight across the Texas landscape, has seen its numbers decline significantly in recent decades due to habitat loss and the spread of invasive fire ants, which have displaced the native harvester ants that make up the bulk of the lizard’s diet.
The San Antonio Zoo’s dedicated team is working against the clock to give the horned lizard a fighting chance, and their efforts could represent a landmark moment for the conservation of this beloved Texas symbol. If successful, the zoo’s breeding program may mark a possible first in the species’ managed care history.
The Texas horned lizard holds a special place in the hearts of San Antonians and Texans alike — it is the official state reptile of Texas. The zoo’s passionate commitment to preserving it is a reminder of how local institutions can play a vital role in protecting the natural heritage of the Lone Star State.
Sources: San Antonio Report
