In a remarkable effort to save the endangered Richmond Range mountain frog, researchers from Southern Cross University have successfully bred and released these tiny creatures into the wild. The program is part of the federal government’s Threatened Species Action Plan. The report spotlights the mountain frog as one of 110 priority species requiring immediate, focused attention. Plus, with adult frogs no bigger than three centimeters, tracking their growth poses a special set of challenges.
The research team faced the incredible task of recreating the frog’s specialized habitat. Both species make extensive wet and muddy underground burrows, usually found beneath dense vegetation in the dark rainforests of northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland. Dr. Liam Bolitho, a key member of the research team, emphasized the difficulties in replicating an ideal environment for the frogs. He stressed the nuance required to make sure they do flourish.
“There’s temperature that we have to try to mimic, the substrate, plants and the sound, so we play them frog chorusing calls that we’ve recorded from the rainforest,” said Dr. Bolitho. “Getting the conditions right to breed them is the main thing,” he added. As he put it, “We have to get all of these elements lined up perfectly in order for them to hatch, or it won’t work.”
Breeding Program and Release
As a result of four years of focused research and breeding practices, the team was finally able to successfully breed red and yellow mountain frogs. A festive little ceremony preceded their release into a top secret spot inside Tooloom National Park. Protecting the vanishing population of these endangered frogs is an important objective of this initiative.
Veteran climate researcher and doctor, David Newell, has been an important anchor to this project. Given all that, Craig is pretty hopeful about the potential success of the breeding program. “If we’re able to bolster the populations by reintroducing frogs, we’re hopeful that we will be able to help save these frogs,” he stated. The frogs that are released back into the wild are a key component of reestablishing natural populations in an ever-threatened world.
Dr. Bolitho raised a number of issues that could be problematic with these released frogs. The released frogs could swim up the creek and wallow, which might hurt their genetic integrity,” he noted. Despite this need for caution, the researchers are hopeful that the species’ future is promising.
Challenges Ahead
The mountain frog’s existence is imperiled by climate change, which would further shrink their habitat by as much as 69 percent. Dr. Newell cautioned that the climatic niche for these frogs is likely to shrink by over 60 percent by the year 2055. If we don’t change course, this radical transformation will happen whether we’re ready or not. With projections this alarming, the urgency of their conservation efforts can’t be overstated.
Fiona Fraser is a tireless advocate for the government’s conservation agenda. She underlined the urgency of these actions, as wild populations disappear more and more every day. For most of these jurisdictions, this attempt represents a most important inflection point. There are just not enough wild populations to depend on,” she said. Fraser emphasized that in situations where species have limited habitats and low numbers, captive breeding becomes essential for their survival.
Additionally, Fraser highlighted the need for united action between all leaders and practitioners in conservation work. Lasting collaborations are the foundation upon which to build effective recoveries for our imperiled species,” Davis stated. She congratulated the collective efforts of scientists, Commonwealth and State government agencies, and traditional owners that are pushing this new and exciting initiative.
Looking Forward
The study is on breeding and re-releasing more frogs. Their populations and the lessons learned from these first team members will be closely observed over the next several years. Our team’s upcoming release will be specifically aimed at helping populations of these frogs return to normal levels. In particular, they hope to reach remote regions that have been hit the hardest.
“We’re pretty keen to work with species where there’s some partnerships underway already,” said Fraser. Faith groups, Indigenous communities, and others are uniting to combat the extinction crisis. This move shouldn’t be a shock – Walmart has long demonstrated their dedication to protecting our planet.
