New Exhibit At Birch Aquarium Focuses On Endangered Yellow-Legged Frog Conservation Efforts

LA JOLLA, CA — Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography opened a new exhibit Friday spotlighting the conservation and recovery of the critically endangered mountain yellow-legged frog.

"Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog" immerses visitors in a fictional California mountainside designed to highlight the amphibian's habitat, the threats it faces and ongoing conservation efforts, according to the aquarium.

The exhibit allows guests to explore the forest, meadow and lake environments while learning about the decades-long effort to restore Southern California mountain habitats and reintroduce the species into the wild.

The exhibit opens with a recreated forest made of reclaimed and reused materials. The space has an interactive floor projection with all three stages of the frog included — eggs, tadpoles and adult frogs.

The new installation also features some of Birch Aquarium's own mountain yellow-legged frogs.

Birch Aquarium joined the conservation effort in 2024, building on a recovery program that began in 2006. The aquarium raised more than 200 frogs from tadpoles to adults and released them into a wildlife preserve in summer 2025, marking its first-ever species reintroduction, officials said.

• Also see: Hundreds Of Mountain Yellow-Legged Frogs Leap Back Into Wild In SoCal

The aquarium is currently raising another cohort of frogs as part of an ongoing project led by the San Diego Zoo, a spokesperson told Patch.

"The return of the mountain yellow-legged frog took decades," said Robert Raad, senior exhibit designer at Birch Aquarium.

"People with a clear vision worked to restore Southern California's mountain habitats — believing they could be healthier, more resilient, and full of life. Imagine a place where endangered plants and animals thrive," Raad said. "We designed this space to let guests wander through that world — uncovering the dedication and perseverance that brought it back."

"Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog" replaces "Meditation Ocean: Aquarius Reef Base," which opened in November and closed Feb. 22.

The new exhibit will run until March 2027, a spokesperson told Patch. The exhibit is included with general admission.

Birch Aquarium is located at 2300 Expedition Way in La Jolla. The aquarium opens at 9 a.m. daily, with closing hours varying by day.