The future of an endangered frog species is looking brighter as the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Saving our Species Program teams up with Taronga Zoo on a new purpose-built facility to support a captive breeding program.
Announced by Minister for the Environment, James Griffin, an ‘insurance’ population of the Booroolong frogs has been established at the new facility, after severe drought almost wiped out the species from their habitat.
“Booroolong frogs are usually found in streams in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales and they were badly affected by the 2019 drought when many waterways dried up,” Mr Griffin said.
“To help protect this threatened species, our experts from the Saving our Species (SoS) Program and Taronga Zoo joined local ecologist Phil Spark and the Australian Museum’s Dr Jodi Rowley to rescue 58 healthy frogs to develop a captive breeding program,” he said.
“We’ve now successfully established an insurance population of Booroolong frogs, and they’re thriving in their state-of-the-art home.”
Mr Griffin said the facility had advanced features that replicated the frog’s natural environment, including special UV lighting, flowing water and temperature controls that mimicked seasonal changes.
The Minister said most Booroolong frogs lived for only a single breeding season.
“One failed breeding season can cause significant population decline, while 20 consecutive years of failed breeding may result in local extinction,” he said.
“Australia’s amphibians are experiencing widespread declines due to threats such as recent droughts, fires and the devastating chytrid fungus,” Mr Griffin said.
