One hope for this extraordinary amphibian is breeding in zoos, which can be used to replenish the wild population. In the State of Victoria, Melbourne Zoo and the Healesville Sanctuary (both associated within Zoos Victoria) have created a breeding population of the southern corroboree frog and are seeking to return them to the wild, in the Mount Kosciuszko area.

It is estimated that before the bushfires there were less than 50 individuals living in the wild. Other southern corroboree frogs lived in breeding enclosures in Kosciuszko National Park, however, the flames swept over them. Fortunately, it later turned out that some of the frogs managed to survive in various shelters. Thus, it can also be assumed that some wild individuals have also escaped.

In any case, the bushfires greatly reversed efforts to rescue the southern corroboree frog. Money from Prague Zoo’s collection was therefore also used to support the fight to preserve the “frog icon of Australia”. Our support, amounting to AU$ 120,000, was provided to Zoos Victoria to renew and extend environmental refuges and in-situ breeding enclosures for the southern corroboree frog in the Mount Kosciuszko area. At the same time, we have spent an additional AU$ 300,000 on increasing the breeding programme for this frog and its subsequent return to the wild.

Supported organisation and area:
Zoos Victoria – Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Mount Kosciuszko

Amount:
AU$ 120,000 (CZK 2,002,452) on breeding facilities
AU$ 300,000 (CZK 5,006,130) on the return to the wild

Photo: Melbourne Zoo