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Saint Louis Zoo sees 'banner year' for breeding program as 1,300-plus hellbenders hatch

Staff members at the Saint Louis Zoo are hustling as they care for the 1,300-plus hellbenders that hatched in the last few months of the year.

From managing diverse diets to aquatic care, it takes about four full-time staff members to care for the unique amphibians, along with the already established adult generations, which brings the total number close to 3,000.

Hellbenders are the largest aquatic salamanders in North America. Missouri is the only state that has both subspecies — the Ozark hellbender and the eastern hellbender. Both are listed as endangered in Missouri, and the Ozark hellbender also is federally endangered.