A pop mascot is doing some real work for conservation in Puerto Rico.
Months after Super Bowl LX helped put Puerto Rico’s only native toad back in the spotlight, Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo sent more than 12,000 tadpoles to the island to support recovery of the endangered Puerto Rican crested toad, according to WBEZ.
Much of the renewed attention has centered on Concho, the mascot inspired by the sapo concho and embraced by Bad Bunny. That attention has also highlighted pressure on the species, including habitat loss, invasive species, predators, deforestation and gentrification.
Brookfield’s breeding program began in 2017 and reached its biggest output yet in May, when the zoo sent more than 12,000 tadpoles to Puerto Rico. The tadpoles are moved in temperature-controlled boxes before being released into vernal pools in Arecibo and Guánica.
Mike Masellis, Brookfield Zoo’s lead animal care expert, said the species’ growing visibility is clear even from Chicago.
“Five years ago, that wasn’t really the case,” he said, recalling that he had recently seen people wearing sapo concho shirts in public.
He added, “I think every celebrity should probably be paired with an endangered species because it helps a lot.”
WBEZ reported the toads were long thought extinct before their rediscovery in 1966. It also reported climate change is creating new problems by raising sea levels and increasing saltwater intrusion into breeding ponds that used to be freshwater.
Ramón L. Rivera Lebrón, an expert biologist with Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, said protecting the sapo concho also helps preserve habitat for native birds, reptiles and other wildlife, while keeping insect populations in check.
Masellis said, “The best thing about conservation is when it has an end date.”
According to Masellis, the Puerto Rican Crested Toad Conservancy hopes the species can be taken off the endangered list within the next decade.
Rivera Lebrón described the toad’s appearance and cultural importance, calling the animals “gorgeous” and “very elegant.”
He added, “Above all, I want people to learn about our culture and to get to know our one-of-a-kind animals.”
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