Simon Corbell MLA ATTORNEY GENERAL MINISTER FOR POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MEMBER FOR MOLONGLO

MEDIA

RELEASE

101,000 REASONS TO HELP CORROBOREE FROGS SURVIVE IN THE ACT The captive breeding program for the Northern Corroboree frog has received a life-saving boost with $101,000 allocated in the 2012-13 Budget, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell, announced today. “The Government is pleased to be able to fund a program that aims to see the ongoing protection of the Northern Corroboree Frog which is in danger of becoming extinct,” Mr Corbell said. “Surveys in the 1980s showed there were many thousands of Northern Corroboree frogs in Namadgi National Park. Now it is estimated that there are only very few remaining in the wild in the ACT, largely as the result of an introduced disease.” “This funding will provide the necessary money to the captive breeding program to protect these important frogs so they can continue to play their part to the ACT ecosystem.” The Northern Corroboree Frog Captive Breeding Program started in 2003 and to-date has been funded by the Commonwealth. “With Commonwealth funding due to cease in June 2012, funding by the ACT Government is vital towards continuing this program as a way to boost wild populations and as a precaution in the event that wild populations become extinct. “The program will receive $24,000 in 2012-13, with the remainder spread over the subsequent three years to 2015-16. “It continues key Government commitments to the conservation of threatened species and for achieving progress towards action plans for threatened species and communities. It also aligns with the Government’s commitment to better ecosystem management and planning. The captive colony is housed in purpose-fitted shipping containers that serve as a bio-secure (disease quarantine) facility at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. “This funding will ensure the continued provision of essential animal husbandry services for the day-to-day management of the Corroboree frog colony and release of frogs to Namadgi National Park,” Mr Corbell said. “I am proud that the ACT Government can be a leader in this space and protect a small, but endangered species that make an important contribution to the ACT environment.” Statement Ends: Media Contacts: Patrick Cronan 6205 0401 (w) 0432 758 224 (m) [email protected]

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