POCATELLO — Zoo Idaho has officially partnered with several organizations throughout the country, including the Trumpeter Swan Society and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on the Oregon Restoration Project.

According to a news release from the City of Pocatello, the goal of this project is to improve the population of trumpeter swans in Oregon. The zoo has housed 19 swans over the winter before relocating them to Oregon.

The 19 swans from Pocatello were taken to the Summer Lake Wildlife Area in Oregon along with six other swans from Wyoming back in late-June. They were processed and had tracking collars placed on them before being released into the wild.

The news release said the zoo is going to receive 20 more swans at the end of October that will stay at the zoo until June 2025. They will then be released to the Summer Lake Wildlife Area.

The Oregon Restoration Project hopes to create a self-sustaining flock in the area. The hope is that the swans will expand to other wetlands in Eastern Oregon.

Peter Pruett, manager of Zoo Idaho, said in the news release that the zoo is proud to be part of the Oregon Restoration Project.

“Zoo Idaho is now forever linked to the efforts of creating a sustainable trumpeter swan population for the State of Oregon,” he said in the news release. “This is a great accomplishment.”

The news release said the zoo currently has one of the largest wetland facilities in the country. It is capable of housing 20 baby swans.