Giant burrowing frogs return to wild after rescue from 2019-20 fires in Victoria
After the 2019-20 black summer fires, tadpoles of the endangered giant burrowing frog were rescued, raised in captivity, and 53 adult frogs have now been released back into their natural habitat.
In eastern Victoria, scientists discovered tadpoles of the critically endangered southern giant burrowing frog following the devastating 2019-20 black summer bushfires. About 160 tadpoles were collected from puddles in East Gippsland and transported to Melbourne Zoo.
At the zoo, these tadpoles were raised through metamorphosis into frogs and successfully bred in captivity for the first time. Now, 53 male frogs, approximately five years old, have been released back into remote areas of their native habitat after heavy rains.
These elusive frogs, roughly the size of a cricket ball, spend much of their time buried underground in sandy soils and forested environments. They emerge to breed only when conditions are favorable, often in ephemeral creeks and ponds.
Genetic testing ensured that only suitable frogs were kept for breeding programs, while others were released to support wild populations. Each frog was tagged, and monitoring equipment has been set up to track their calls and survival in the wild.
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