Images: Fort Worth Zoo
The Fort Worth Zoo has marked a historic milestone in the conservation of the Texas horned lizard, Texas’ state reptile, with the release of an unprecedented 617 lizards back into their natural habitat. This achievement reflects a collaborative effort with partner organizations, including the Dallas Zoo, Caldwell Zoo, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, and Pearland Nature Center. Remarkably, 301 of these lizards were hatched at the Fort Worth Zoo itself.
As the first zoo to successfully breed Texas horned lizards, the Fort Worth Zoo has set the standard for breeding practices and houses the largest managed breeding population of this iconic species. Since the Texas horned lizard project began in 2011, the Zoo has developed and shared specialized protocols for breeding and husbandry, which are now adopted by several conservation institutions across Texas.
Over the years, the Fort Worth Zoo has worked closely with its partners to refine these conservation methods, which has led to improved hatchling survival and increased reintroduction rates. This year’s record number of hatchlings showcases the progress made through this collective effort, aiming to stabilize wild populations of the Texas horned lizard—a complex goal that requires both extensive resources and expertise across multiple fields.
Diane Barber, the Zoo’s Senior Curator of Ectotherms, explained, “Understanding horned lizard behavior, reproduction, and their ecological interactions allows us to better establish self-sustaining populations in new areas.”
The latest hatchlings were released into the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area as part of the Zoo’s ongoing Texas horned lizard conservation program, in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and other organizations, including Texas Christian University (TCU). Released lizards are carefully tracked through adulthood to monitor their survival and reproduction in the wild—key indicators of a thriving, sustainable population.
Reflecting on this milestone, Barber added, “Reaching new goals and expanding our network of partners would not be possible without the dedication of our collaborators and the support from TPWD.”
For more about the Fort Worth Zoo’s conservation efforts and to see how they are making a difference for Texas wildlife, visit the Fort Worth Zoo today.
