Story perspectives
116 Eastern Hellbenders Released: Hope for Ohio's Waters
10/13/2025
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Story summary
- The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds released 116 juvenile eastern hellbenders into protected waterways in Ohio.
- The summer release brings total eastern hellbenders released since 2012 to over 2,000, including 350 last year.
- Habitat loss and pollution have severely impacted hellbenders.
- Researchers noted reproduction of previously released hellbenders for the first time in 2023.
- Thirty new hellbender huts were installed to support monitoring at 32 sites in Ohio.
