Stories from - PUERTO RICO
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The Puerto Rican Crested Toad: Once thought extinct, now recovering
The federally threatened Puerto Rican crested toad has experienced a dramatic reversal of fortunes, thanks, in part, to a successful captive breeding and release program... Read More
Stories from - PUERTO RICO
View All StoriesConserving the Elfin-woods Warbler in Puerto Rico
Agile and swift, small and restless, the elfin-woods warbler (Dendroica angelae) moves through the canopy as if playing hide-and-go-seek. There are 38 warbler species found in... Read More
Featured Species in Puerto Rico
Vahl's boxwood
Vahl's Boxwood is a rare plant that is native to Puerto Rico and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It has probably never been very common, but its distribution has been reduced by deforestation and other human disturbance of its habitat.
Vahl's boxwood.
Partnership Stories in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican Parrot
This video, produced by Parrots International, focuses on the Puerto Rican Parrot—one of the ten rarest birds one earth. As of March 2006 there are 200 parrots counting both captive and wild birds. More »
Unique to Puerto Rico
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With less than 50 individuals in the wild, Puerto Rican parrots (Amazona vittatas) are considered one of the most endangered birds in the world. Threatened by rainforest deforestion, hunting, human activities and hurricanes, this beautiful green bird is the center of an intensive captive breeding program to help restore these birds to the wild. The parrot or "Iguaca" is important to Puerto Rico's natural and cultural history, and is a symbol of national pride and natural resources conservation.
Photo credit: MacKenzie, USFWS -
Endemic only to Puerto Rico, the capa rosa tree (Callicarpa ampla) is extremely rare and faces threats from forestation practices, construction of communication facilities, road construction, collection, and hurricanes. This evergreen tree is only found in the Luquillo Mountains, specifically in the Caribbean National Forest.
Photo credit: Luis Rivera, USFS