The Northern Corrobboree Frogs that were evacuated to the Australian National University (ANU) during the Orroral Valley fire have been returned to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
Minister for the Environment, Mick Gentleman said a population of 450 Northern Corrobboree Frogs were moved to purpose-built tanks at the ANU on 30 January as fires bore down on the national park.
“Northern Corroboree Frogs are critically endangered in the wild and they are part of Tidbinbilla’s threatened species breeding program,” Mr Gentleman said.
“Their safe return to Tidbinbilla is a triumph in our ongoing efforts to reintroduce the critically endangered species into the wild.”
He said many of the frogs that had been returned would be released into the Namadgi National Park’s sensitive alpine areas later this year.
“The massive biodiversity loss suffered this bushfire season and changing climate mean conserving endangered native populations is more important than ever,” Mr Gentleman said.
He said koalas – named Jed, Billa, Scully, Yellow, Gulu – and a new joey would be monitored closely at Tidbinbilla before their return to the outdoor enclosure next month.
“I thank the ANU for their valuable assistance in providing suitable habitat, warm hospitality and incredible care for our threatened species,” Mr Gentleman said.
“Their efforts have helped the survival of some of the ACT’s most iconic animals”.
He said other threatened species would be returned to the area in the coming weeks, including 24 eastern bettongs and 24 brush-tailed rock wallabies evacuated by Australian Defence Force personnel to Mt Rothwell in Victoria, and a further four rock wallabies and seven platypuses which have been receiving care at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.
