Story perspectives
116 Hellbenders Released to Restore Ohio's Aquatic Ecosystem
10/16/2025
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Story summary
- The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds released 116 hellbenders into Ohio and West Virginia waterways this summer.
- This release is part of a decade-long effort to restore the hellbender population, which has declined due to habitat loss and pollution.
- Since 2012, over 2,000 hellbenders have been released.
- The program shows signs of success, including wild reproduction in 2023 and the discovery of a tagged hellbender from 2013.
