Giant burrowing frogs bred in captivity, returned to wild
53 giant burrowing frogs, first successfully bred in captivity, were released to their native Victoria habitat.
Fifty-three giant burrowing frogs have been returned to the Victorian bush after scientists successfully bred them in captivity for the first time. About 160 tadpoles were collected from puddles in East Gippsland after the 2019-20 black summer bushfires and taken to Melbourne Zoo.
Last year, they were successfully bred in captivity, a milestone never achieved before. The frogs, now about five years old, were released at sites that had received heavy rain.
This matched their natural breeding conditions. The elusive frogs grow to roughly the size of a cricket ball and are believed to live over 20 years.
Scientists tagged each frog and installed song meters at release sites to monitor their calls. The southern giant burrowing frog is critically endangered in Victoria, with only five known breeding sites remaining.
Threats include habitat destruction, bushfires, droughts and climate change.
- about 160
- Tadpoles collected
- 53
- Frogs released
- 5 known sites
- Breeding sites remaining
- over 20 years
- Frog lifespan
Why it mattersThis successful breeding and release offers hope for a species pushed to the brink of extinction by climate disasters and habitat loss.
AustraliaVictoria's giant burrowing frogs have a real chance of recovery thanks to this captive breeding program, and it shows how Australian wildlife can bounce back.
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