Helping Threatened Frogs in the Murray region

Frog populations have been declining worldwide at unprecedented rates, and nearly one-third of the world’s amphibian species are threatened with extinction.  The Murray region is home to a number of threatened frogs – from the critically endangered Southern Corroboree Frog in the Alpine region, to the Sloane’s Froglet with populations around Albury and Corowa.

Frogs are important components of wetland and riverine ecosystems and are often used as indicators of environmental health.  The Threatened Frog project is one of many ways Murray Local Land Services (Murray LLS) is collaborating to improve the status of a wide range of threatened flora, fauna and vegetation communities in the region.

Murray LLS works closely with key partners in the region to improve the status of key threatened frog species through:

1. Raising awareness of threatened frog species
2. Improving key habitat areas for threatened frogs
3. Reduce impacts from weeds and pest animals

The project has so far achieved this by:

• Being a member of the National Corroboree Frog Recovery Team, including managing and maintaining the Corroboree Frog website (www.corroboreefrog.com.au)
• Supporting Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre to house a small population of Corroboree Frogs to educate and raise awareness of Coroboree Frogs among students and the general community
• Completing on-ground works at Coppabella Creek including weed control to restore key habitat areas for Booroolong Frogs
• Supporting rehabilitation of Norman’s Lagoon in Albury – key Sloane’s Froglet habitat – through the Wetland Carbon Storage project.
• Supporting Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre to develop the Corroboree Frog i-book.

Key partners and stakeholders of the project include Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre, Office of Environment and Heritage, Taronga Zoo, Melbourne Zoo, and Landholders.

For more information, please contact:

Tara Pitman
Land Services Officer
Phone (02) 6051 2250
Email tara.pitman@lls.nsw.gov.au

Additional information:

• Corroboree Frog website
• Corroboree Frogs at Wirraminna
• Office of Environment and Heritage Booroolong Frog Species Profile
• Office of Environment and Heritage Sloane’s Froglet profile
• Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme website
• Murray LLS website
• Wetland Carbon Storage project on Riverspace

The Threatened Frog project is funded by Catchment Action NSW and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.