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Rare Frogs Saved: Bushfire Survivors Breed in Captivity
4 Nov
Summary
- Southern giant burrowing frog tadpoles rescued after bushfires.
- Successfully bred in captivity for the first time at Melbourne Zoo.
- 53 adult frogs returned to native East Gippsland habitat.
Following the devastating 2019-20 bushfires in East Gippsland, scientists discovered puddles containing southern giant burrowing frog tadpoles, a critically endangered species in Victoria. About 160 tadpoles were collected and transported to Melbourne Zoo, where they were successfully raised through metamorphosis and bred in captivity for the first time last year.
In a significant conservation effort, 53 of these frogs, now five years old, have been released back into their native habitat in a remote eastern Victoria location. These elusive frogs, which spend much of their time buried underground, were released after recent thunderstorms provided adequate rainfall. Genetic testing ensured that the released frogs were not essential for the ongoing captive breeding program aimed at preventing extinction.
Conservationists are using tagged frogs and song meters to monitor the reintroduced population. Climate change, including more frequent bushfires and droughts, poses ongoing threats to the species, which has only five known breeding sites in Victoria.
