Continuing collaborations to support re-introduction of the endangered Stuttering Frog (Mixophyes balbus)
Shoalhaven Landcare are building new partnerships to continue our work on re-introducing chytrid free Stuttering Frogs in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra.
Capacity building - LEP23-014-LLC08-2
The issue
The Southern Stuttering frog is a large species growing up to 8cm in length and has a series of dark bars across its legs. It hides under leaf litter and or large rocks and is difficult to spot with the naked eye. Its call has a distinct stuttering sound.
Stuttering Frogs (Mixophyes balbus) have become endangered in the Shoalhaven due to habitat fragmentation, land clearing, drought & bushfires, and more recently from the exotic amphibian disease -Chytrid.
In 2017, Shoalhaven Landcare member & Ecologist Garry Daly led an Environment trust project to re-introduce the endangered Stuttering Frog to three targeted locations in the Shoalhaven.
The solution
The Environment Trust Grant enabled chytrid free Stuttering Frogs to be released at Bundanon- Riverdale, Macquarie Pass National Park and Tapitallee Creek.
Post Environment Trust grant, Garry has established a new long-term collaboration with Symbio Wildlife Park in Helensburgh. Symbio Wildlife Park has built two dedicated breeding facilities to enable breeding of chytrid free Stuttering Frogs. Captive bred tadpoles and frogs from this facility have been released as part of this project to the three locations in the Shoalhaven.
The impact
Garry's passion and dedication has enabled him to continue this work releasing more chytrid free Stuttering Frogs following the completion of the Environment Trust grant. In 2025 captive bred, chytrid free tadpoles have been released in additional locations in the Shoalhaven including Bundewallah Creek plus Royal National Park and Macquarie Pass National Park. Monitoring has been on-going post release. It is exciting to report that Stuttering Frogs have been heard calling at a number of sites post release.
Partnerships and collaborations on this project have extended beyond the life of the Environment Trust Grant which concluded in 2020. Organisations partnering with Shoalhaven Landcare on this project include: Symbio Wildlife Park, NPWS, Bundanon Trust, Shoalhaven City Council, Bundewallah Bushcare, Department Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water (DCCEEW) and Newcastle University.
Key facts
- The dedication of volunteers has enabled completed grant projects to continue on ground including strengthening the project with new collaborations
- Shoalhaven Landcare have developed a new long-term partnership with Symbio Wildlife Park to support re-introduction of chytrid free Stuttering Frogs across the Shoalhaven and Illawarra
- Shoalhaven Landcare continue to seek further grant funding to enable this project to continue long-term