After the devastating 2019‑20 black summer bushfires swept through East Gippsland, scientists discovered a glimmer of hope for the critically endangered southern giant burrowing frog. Puddles of tadpoles, the species’ elusive early life stage, were found in the ash‑stained wetlands and quickly collected for rescue.
About 160 tadpoles were transported to Melbourne Zoo, where herpetologists raised them through metamorphosis. For the first time ever, the frogs were successfully bred in captivity, producing 53 healthy male frogs now five years old.
These frogs are roughly the size of a cricket ball as adults and can live over 20 years. Their secretive nature—spending most of their lives buried in sandy soils—made them difficult to locate, but the recent rains have finally allowed them to surface for breeding.
After rigorous genetic testing to avoid inbreeding, the frogs were tagged and released into a remote East Gippsland habitat that had received 80‑100 mm of rain in recent weeks. Song meters were installed to monitor their calls, ensuring the release’s success.
“The goal is to reestablish a self‑sustaining population,” said Ryan Moes, specialist amphibian keeper at Zoos Victoria. “By raising and releasing these frogs, we’re giving the species a fighting chance in its native environment.”
Source: The Guardian World
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