Baby Horned Lizards Are Born at Tyler’s Caldwell Zoo

(Tyler, Texas) Caldwell Zoo in Tyler is helping to incubate and increase the population of the official reptile for the state of Texas, the Texas Horned Lizard.

Caldwell Zoo’s Role in Texas Horned Lizard Conservation

Commonly called the 'horny toad', these small, but vitally important creatures once numbered in the millions in West Texas, are now considered 'threatened with extinction' Through a partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife, Caldwell Zoo created the Texas Horned Lizard Conservation Center and for the past six years the zoo has been helping the population flourish.

Record Number of Hatchlings in Tyler

This week, the zoo announced that it has a new group of hatchlings that it is carefully caring for. This is the largest number of eggs the zoo has ever helped to incubate. So far, 20 horny toads have hatched, and there are about another 70 still in the incubators. Once these little lizards crack through their fragile shells, zoo staff will provide them with everything they need - from a warm environment to the termite larvae they feast on.

Why Saving the Horny Toad Matters

Caldwell Zoo's Supervisor of Reptiles, Katelyn Lenhart, says,

We are very dedicated to the cause. These lizards are an important part of the ecosystem and really, a cherished part of Texas lore. People used to grow up seeing these lizards all the time. Now, they are a rare sight. The species needs help to survive. So, we’re doing all we can to make sure they are here for generations to come.

From Zoo Hatchlings to the Wild

Once they're big enough to be on their own, Caldwell Zoo will transfer these cute creatures to a protected habitat near Mason Mountain, Texas, to be released back into the wild, and many of them will be outfitted with tiny radio transmitters to track their location.

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Now is a perfect time to visit Caldwell Zoo because you can see these hatchlings in the reptile exhibit.

Caldwell Zoo is more than just a zoo where you can see flamingos, elephants, monkeys, lions, zebras, giraffes, reptiles, birds, hippos, and wildlife; they’re helping species from Texas and around the world survive and thrive.

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Other Species Caldwell Zoo is Protecting

In addition to helping the horny toad thrive, this past July, Caldwell Zoo turned over control of 36 Attwater's Prairie Chickens to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where they will be set free on a protected refuge here in Texas. The zoo is also helping six other animal species improve their global numbers.

Thanks to the hard work of zookeepers, species native to Texas, as well as those endangered, are getting a fighting chance at survival.