More than 100 bell frog tadpoles have been found recently at new wetland sites constructed in partnership with Greening Australia, local landholders, and West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
The project to construct the wetlands, funded by the Victorian State Government for the health of the Gippsland Lakes, aims to improve the vegetation and health of the fringing wetland Lakes and provide much-needed habitat for birds, frogs, and other freshwater species.
Greening Australia Project Manager, Martin Potts, said that frog surveys show there are only an estimated 400 Golden Bell frogs and 80 Growling Grass frogs left in the system.
“Greening Australia has been working with partners and landholders to construct new wetlands and re-instate wetlands which may have been drained or used for grazing in the past,” explained Martin.
“We are absolutely thrilled to find more than 100 tadpoles living in these restored wetlands. Both the Golden Bell Frog and Growling Grass frogs have been observed with their young.
“Even better than this – we’ve seen the tadpoles making their full metamorphosis to frogs and leaving the water.
“It shows not only that the work we are doing is making a real difference, but that it is possible to restore sites and if we make the habitat right, endangered and vulnerable species like these frogs will return.”
Martin praised the landholders involved in the program.
“We have been working with some fantastic farmers and landholders as part of this program. Their enthusiasm and passion for what we are trying to achieve, as well as practical site management, has helped our success this year.
“It was a particularly tough season with drought and fire in the landscape, so to make this discovery is particularly heartening.”
For more information about projects in and around the Gippsland Lakes visit loveourlakes.net.au.
This project was funded by the Victorian State Government for the health of the Gippsland Lakes.
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