New Dart Frog Exhibit Debuts as Amarillo Zoo Prepares to Reopen

Big things have been happening at Amarillo's Zoo since it became Amarillo Zoo & Sanctuary. After officially taking over the zoo from the city, the new non-profit closed the zoo for much-needed love and upgrades.

Community Rallies Around Zoo Renovation

They have been working hard on cleaning out areas in the zoo that needed it the most. The moat was one of the areas that had not been drained and cleaned in the last 3 years. They have been working on the bison habitat, getting that cleaned up. Over in the longhorn habitat, a community member stepped up and donated a bunch of hay bales to help fatten up the longhorns.

They are currently trimming trees and had a community business step up to come in with a whole crew to trim those harder to reach trees and help get rid of unwanted brush.

Not only that, they have had several community groups step up to help in the cleanup and a lot of painting. The zoo had many areas that needed a fresh coat of paint.

Zookeeper Builds Stunning New Habitat From Scratch

With all that going on, they have managed to put together a new exhibit for everyone to enjoy. This new exhibit will be featured in the Herpetarium.

The Amarillo Zoo & Sanctuary will now feature Santa Isabel dart frogs. All nine of these beautiful amphibians now call a brand-new custom-built habitat home. Kyson Gross, the AZS's reptile and amphibian zookeeper, designed and built this new exhibit. Their new home replicates their natural environment.

Meet the Santa Isabel Dart Frog

The AZS shared some fun frog facts:

Santa Isabel dart frogs sport striking red and green/mint coloring - a natural warning to predators.
In the wild, their bright colors signal toxicity, but the zoo's frogs are perfectly safe.
They're only about 1–2 inches long, but they pack a ton of personality.
They thrive in warm, humid tropical environments - exactly what Kyson recreated.

Think You Can Find All Nine?

Make plans to visit the Amarillo Zoo & Sanctuary when they reopen to see and learn more about these fascinating creatures. See if you can find all nine frogs.