Reforestation, Reggaeton and the Recovery of Puerto Rico’s Crested Toad

Wildlife lovers had a special treat at this year’s Super Bowl—Bad Bunny’s halftime show featured an endangered Puerto Rican toad. While it may have been the first time some viewers saw the species, the amphibian’s natural and cultural significance goes much deeper.  The Puerto Rican crested toad’s story is emblematic of both environmental destruction and more recent attempts at restoration on the island. European colonizers deforested most of the island to cultivate sugar cane, leaving a devastated environment in their wake. Today, conservationists are working to rebuild these forests by following nature’s lead. The endangered Puerto Rican crested toad, a species that was almost wiped off the island entirely, is just one of the species benefiting from these efforts. In this episode of “Our Wild Lives,” staff writer Olivia Milloway visits Hacienda la Esperanza nature preserve to investigate how Puerto Rican nonprofit Para La Naturaleza is restoring the island’s forests for the sake of endemic birds and crested toad populations.  “Our Wild Lives” is The Wildlife Society’s weekly podcast, sharing compelling stories from wildlife professionals doing critical work around the world. Your hosts, Katie Perkins and Ed Arnett of The Wildlife Society, bring you thought-provoking conversations with leading experts and emerging voices. New episodes are released weekly wherever you get your podcasts. This episode features reporting from a three-part online series on habitat restoration and wildlife management in Puerto Rico. Read the first part on deforestation and habitat fragmentation, the second part on Puerto Rican oriole conservation and the third part on the reintroduction of the crested toad.  Share your thoughts on the Our Wild Lives Podcast by sending us a text here!Become a member of The Wildlife Society: https://wildlife.org/membership/Support Wildlife, Invest in Wildlife Professionals: https://wildlife.org/donate/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifesociety/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildlifesocietyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildlife-society/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Wildlife_Society