News

Corroboree frog eggs

Recent research has looked at the opportunity to use IVF to help improve breeding Corroboree Frogs in captivity.  Dr Phil Byrne, a biologist with Monash University, is trialing the tecnhology as part of a project with the Corroboree Conservation Program. The trial managed to get fertilisation of the embryos but unfortunately the embryos failed during the early stages of the development. 
More work will be carried out in the next breeding season to try to improve the technique and further test whether this will help us get a step closer to better breeding success in captivity.

Adoption Certificate

The Adopt-a-Frog program is off to a good start with about 60 frogs adopted so far since the launch. But this leaves a lot more frogs to be adopted to reach our aim of 500 adoptions to kick-start the program!

For the next two weeks all adopters will get a little gift in the mail to say thanks for getting on board.

Adoptions can be made through this website or drop into a Murray CMA office and make sure to leave your address details so we can send out your gift.

The Albury Mayor and MRDB Board Member, Cr Patricia Gould, MRDB CEO Ms Barbara Hull, MRDB chairman Mr Tim Sheed and Mr Michael Keys, the Director of Planning and Economic Development at Albury City Council.

The Murray Regional Development Board, based in Albury-Wodonga, has thrown their support behind the Corroboree Frog program by donating $1,000. Murray Now Chief Executive Officer Barbara Hull has urged other industry, business and community leaders to follow their lead.

Murray Now’s contribution will go towards growing several pairs of adults right through to sexual maturity – which takes 5 years! – and will grow a clutch through to one year of age.

Visit the Murray Regional Development Board website to read more.

Minister Peter Garrett gets to hold a little Corroboree Frog, with Taronga Zoo's Michael McFadden helping out.

A Corroboree Frog going for a crawl at the launch.

The Corroboree Frog Conservation Program was launched in Albury on the 1st of May with the help of Minister for Peter Garrett. The launch was held at Wonga Wetlands, against a backdrop of croaking frogs in the wetlands.

The launch saw the first viewing of the television advertisement, currently showing on Southern Cross Ten, as well as the chance to see the website which went live that same morning.

Minister Garrett was impressed with all the work that has gone into the program by all the project partners and sponsors.

"To see this type of work happening on the ground is very inspiring to me and I really do want to applaud your very good work," he said.

"I was so taken by the enthusiasm, and to be in a position to have a campaign that reaches out to Australians and shows how they can provide assistance and support to preserve and enhance the survivability of this icon species is inspiring."

Everyone had the chance to get up-close and personal with the stars of the show – Corroboree frogs from the captive breeding program at Taronga Zoo. Michael McFadden, Herpetofauna Keeper at Taronga Zoo, made the trip down from Sydney with the little frogs. The frogs were housed in their own specially-designed tanks filled with sphagnum moss and kept cool, just the way they like it.

Click here to read Minister Garrett's media release