$100 million Saving Our Species program sucess

NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean visited Taronga Zoo Sydney to discuss the success of the NSW Government’s threatened species breeding programs ahead of National Threatened Species Day on 7 September.

Southern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) lives in small pockets of Kosciusko National Park

The NSW Government’s $100 million Saving our Species program is helping to save threatened species across the State including the Greater Bilby, Bellinger River Snapping Turtle, the Southern Corroboree Frog and Regent Honeyeaters.

“We have the opportunity to leave our environment and our planet in a better place than we found it and it’s important we take it,” Mr Kean said.

“Globally we’re seeing dramatic declines in our frogs and there’s less than 50 mature Southern Corroboree Frogs left in the wild. If not for the NSW breeding program this species would be functionally extinct.

“We’re focused on increasing the wild population of the Southern Corroboree Frog and I’m excited to announce we will hold a population monitoring trip later this year and an egg release next year in Kosciuszko National Park.

“Saving the Corroboree Frog will be a major achievement for the conservation of amphibians globally and this recovery program is just one example of the NSW Government’s vital conservation work that it is undertaking with its partners, like Taronga Zoo.”

Mr Kean also announced the NSW Government will help facilitate the release of Bilbies shortly, in a predator-free area that will see Bilbies come back to NSW.

“Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world and Bilbies have been extinct in NSW for over 100 years. This program will help get back what we’ve lost,” Mr Kean said.

Taronga Conservation Society Executive Director Cameron Kerr said the zoo was focused on saving vital species and educating people on the importance of protecting wildlife.

“Taronga is best placed to significantly contribute to conservation programs such as these thanks to our skilled animal experts, our leading scientists and our two incredible zoos,” Mr Kerr said.

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