Zoo Species Recovery Programs

Oregon Zoo is dedicated to helping restore populations of native species in the Pacific Northwest. The zoo is involved in seven breeding programs to help boost populations of endangered or sensitive species.

Oregon Spotted Frog

The Oregon Spotted frog is endemic to the Pacific Northwest with a historic range from British Columbia south to the northeast corner of California. In recent times however their range has contracted and there are now just 24 locations in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia where the frog is known to be living currently.
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Western Pond Turtle

Western pond turtles have nearly disappeared from Washington, largely due to predation by non-native bullfrogs. Working cooperatively with Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Zoo "head-starts" newly hatched turtles gathered from wild sites.
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California Condors

California condors have made a comeback to the Pacific Northwest. However, these condors don't soar over the Columbia Gorge. The Oregon Zoo became the California Condor Recovery Program's fourth condor breeding facility in 2003, with the arrival of 12 of the highly endangered birds.
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Washington Pygmy Rabbit

Oregon Zoo is breeding endangered Washington pygmy rabbits for reintroduction to protected habitats in eastern Washington. Before 2001, no one had successfully bred this species in captivity, so the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife asked the Oregon Zoo to help develop pygmy rabbit husbandry protocols.
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Oregon Silverspot Butterfly

The Oregon silverspot butterfly is one of the Oregon butterflies listed as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The Nature Conservancy, the Oregon Zoo and the Woodland Park Zoo have embarked on a butterfly-rearing program designed to maintain genetic variability in the population and increase the likelihood of its natural recovery.
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Taylor's Checkerspot Butterfly

Taylor's checkerspot butterfly is a species of concern under the Endangered Species Act. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted surveys in habitat historically known to have these butterflies and have found them mostly absent.
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