Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development Simon Corbell recently announced that 200 northern corroboree frogs where released back into the sphagnum moss bogs in Namadgi National Park. This release was a part of an eight year in captivity breeding program to help save the frogs which are an endangered species.
“There are currently around 1000 northern corroboree frogs in captivity at Tidbinbilla with evidence showing that a captive breeding program boosts the survival of eggs to adults from less than 10% in the wild to around 80% in the captivity.” Mr Corbell Said.
Mr. Corbell noted that there are estimated to be less than 100 northern corroboree frogs remaining in the wild in the ACT with its decline attributed to the spread of the introduced pathogen Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, which in some cases has caused extinctions of frogs worldwide.
It should be noted that National Park Authorities have developed two conservation programmes at Tidbinbilla in the Australian Capital Territory and Taronga Zoo in Sydney.