ABC7 reports officials stating Bad Bunny music video with Puerto Rican crested toad helps conservation at Brookfield Zoo Chicago

BROOKFIELD, Ill. (WLS) — A recent video from Puerto Rican music sensation Bad Bunny, released alongside his newest album, showcases a specific species of amphibian – the Puerto Rican crested toad – a creature once believed to be extinct.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago has long been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the extinction of this toad species. The recent collaboration with Bad Bunny has brought a significant amount of attention and support to these conservation efforts.

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According to officials from the zoo who spoke to ABC7, approximately 30 crested toads are currently housed at the facility. In a recent development, thousands of tadpoles were transported from Illinois to Puerto Rico last month, where they were reintroduced into the wild habitat of the Puerto Rican crested toad.

Bad Bunny’s video featuring the endangered species led to donations to the Puerto Rican Crested Toad Conservancy for the construction of a new breeding center, according to a report confirmed to ABC7 by Brookfield Zoo Chicago officials.

Mike Masellis, Lead Animal Care Specialist for Aquatics at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, will join ABC7 Wednesday evening to talk more about their conservation efforts.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is open seven days a week. They are open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.