On the 9th of August 2011, Taronga Zoo participated in the release of 153 eggs and 45 tadpoles of the endangered Northern Corroboree Frog into natural habitat in the Northern Brindabella Range.

The release occurred in partnership with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, who produced 52 of the eggs.

The eggs and tadpoles will hopefully survive to metamorphose into young frogs in late spring and disperse into the surrounding habitat. As this species is declining towards extinction, boosting wild populations is an important action in keeping these frogs persistent in the wild.

The Northern Corroboree Frog is a brightly coloured and iconic frog with a very restricted distribution in the high altitude, cooler climate forests of NSW and the ACT. The species has undergone large declines in recent years due to a number of threats, including infection with chytrid fungus, climate change, weeds and feral animals.

Recent genetic studies of this species identified that it contained three important genetic populations that should be preserved. The significant population in the Northern Brindabella Range has been reduced to less than a few hundred individuals, so the breeding program at Taronga Zoo and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve may be critical for its survival.

Michael McFadden Taronga Zoo Herpetofauna Supervisor