PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Zoo is launching an emergency plan to save newts that are native to Crater Lake from extinction, the zoo announced Thursday.

The zoo is teaming up with the National Park Service and Bend’s High Desert Museum to bring 19 Mazama newts to the zoo.

Earlier in August, Oregon Zoo conservation staff traveled to Crater Lake to collect the newts, which are now living in the zoo’s conservation lab, according to the zoo.

“The newts are settling in well, which is just what we’d hoped for,” said Julia Low, who oversees the zoo’s newt conservation program. “This is only the second time this species has been in human care, and this will be the first-ever breeding effort, so we’re eager to learn everything we can.”

The zoo explained that the Mazama newt is a salamand

See Full Page