Mazama newts lay eggs for the first time in human care at Oregon Zoo

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:04]You were looking at video showing a first of its kind milestone happening right here at the Oregon Zoo. Two Mazama newts laid 52 eggs in the conservation lab last month marking the first time ever the species has produced eggs in human care. Now the eggs are about the size of a mustard seed and because they've never even been seen documented in the wild well everything scientists are seeing is basically brand new.

[00:00:30]Historically Mazama newts were the top aquatic predator in Crater Lake but have been threatened recently by invasive crayfish.

[00:00:38]The few dozen eggs whether they eventually hatch or not are seen as a huge milestone in the effort to save Crater Lake's Mazama newts from extinction and we wish them well on that. Hope it works out. They're cute little creatures.