Botany Bay City Council, in partnership with Taronga Park Zoo, is spearheading a program which aims to save Australia’s endangered frog species.
Manager Parks and Landscape Kevin Lowe said the program, which is expected to become as widespread as Bushcare and Landcare, was developed when a colony of Green and Golden Bell Frogs was discovered at a nearby construction site.
Taronga Zoo, which had been running a captive breeding program, sought Council support to reestablish the frogs in ‘the wild’ at Botany Bay. “Frogs are a good environmental barometer,” Kevin Lowe said. “They are highly sensitive to environmental changes and their decline is an indicator of wider environmental degradation.
“By reestablishing populations and monitoring their progress we can learn a lot about our environment.” Earlier attempts to rebuild frog colonies failed due to lack of resources. This prompted Taronga Zoo to ask Council to assist in developing a whole community based education program.
The project, titled ‘Frog Focus Botany’, has school students and other local groups supporting the program by collecting scientific data and assisting with improving habitats. The NSW Department of Education and Training, the Zoological Parks Board of NSW and the NSW Region of Parks and Leisure Australia have provided financial assistance.
Council keeps the public informed on the progress of the program via local newspapers, local radio and Council publications. Currently it is preparing for the Zoo to wind down its involvement and transfer more responsibility to the community.
The aim is to develop a five year plan for the ongoing management and development of the release site. This has involved listing the project outcomes in Council’s Management Plan, involving more staff in the Project and organising further community meetings.
Council has lodged a number of grant submissions and capital requests to create extra ponds and control predatory fish. Improving existing and future ponds with board walks, and retaining walls to reduce the impact of site visits, is also planned. Council is also providing interpretive signage at the site for public and school education.
To date the project has been very successful with mature frogs emerging. The Australian Stock Exchange has joined the project as a major sponsor and plans are in place to take Frog Focus to other communities throughout Australia.
For further information contact Kevin Lowe, telephone (02) 9366 3666
