The Center for Conservation and Research at San Antonio Zoo (CCR) in San Antonio, Texas, has announced another successful hatching season for Texas horned lizards, with 27 baby lizards hatched so far and more expected clutches on the way. These hatchlings will be released into the wild in the fall, contributing to the ongoing efforts of the Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project to preserve and bolster the population of this iconic reptile in South Texas.

Since the project’s inception in 2017, the dedicated team at the CCR has worked tirelessly to breed and protect the state reptile of Texas. A total of 157 Texas horned lizards have been released back onto the landscape.

By employing Geographic Information System (GIS) data, genetic research, and current knowledge about horned lizard ecology and distribution, the team aims to release large numbers of zoo-born individuals into suitable habitats. To ensure the success of these releases, a partnership with Chiron K9, known as the Texas Horned Lizard Detection Canine Network, has been established. Dogs trained to detect live horned lizards, scat, eggs, and shed skin track and monitor the lizards after their release and assess the presence or absence of horned lizards in potential release sites.

Thanks to a passionate group of donors to the Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project, new lizard labs have been added, quadrupling the available space for the project.

“We are thrilled about the progress we’ve made with the Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project,” said Tim Morrow, president and chief executive officer at the San Antonio Zoo. “The hatching of 27 baby lizards this season is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team. The addition of the new lizard labs, made possible by our generous donors, has quadrupled our capacity for breeding and caring for these iconic creatures. This expansion sets the stage for us to have an even greater impact on the survival of the Texas horned lizard species.”

Fondly known as the horny toad, the Texas horned lizard was once abundant throughout Texas. However, they have disappeared over the last 40-50 years due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and invasive species. This decline has led to its inclusion on the state’s threatened species list.

In 1993, a group of schoolchildren successfully petitioned the Texas Legislature to designate the Texas Horned Lizard as the official state reptile, and 18 June is now celebrated as Texas Horned Lizard Day. The CCR is committed to bringing back these fascinating creatures and restoring their population in the wild. 

Photos Credit: © San Antonio Zoo