Tinkerfrog Conservation: Big Wins for a Tiny Frog

The past few months have been a big step forward for the Tinkerfrog conservation program, with exciting progress both in the Frog Lab and out in the wild. From record breeding milestones to successful releases at Kroombit Tops, here’s a quick update for you on what the team has been up to.

177 Tinkerfrogs Back in the Wild

In November last year, Amphibian Conservationist Mikey Vella and Conservation Officer Caitlin Tomsett returned to Kroombit Tops National Park with 32 sub-adult Tinkerfrogs bred at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s Frog Lab. After a long day on the road, the frogs were released across three natural habitat sites.

This release brought the total number of Tinkerfrogs returned to the wild to 177. For a frog once on the brink of extinction, that is HUGE! Even better, several previously released frogs were heard calling at the site, with increased calling activity nearby. This is an encouraging sign that the population may be establishing.

On-Ground Conservation Efforts

While onsite, the team also helped monitor frog populations, repaired fencing that protects key Tinkerfrog habitat from feral pigs, and searched for Tinkerfrogs at a site where the species is believed to be locally extinct. Although no females were found on this trip, earlier scent detection by Ash (a trained conservation dog), gives hope that frogs are still present. You can never lose hope!

A Breeding Breakthrough in the Froglab

Back in the Frog Lab, breeding season delivered a major milestone. Just last month, a second clutch of 73 eggs was produced by a pair of Tinkerfrogs that were both bred and raised at here at the Sanctuary. This is the first successful second-generation breeding for the program!

Over the last few weeks, the tiny embryos have developed into tadpoles before hatching. You can watch them grow on the live TV near our Frog Lab at Conservation HQ, make sure to stop by during your next visit!

The previous clutch, laid in November, has mostly hatched, with tadpoles now feeding on silt sourced directly from Kroombit. Yum!

Inspiring the Next Generation

A few weeks ago, the Frog Lab also welcomed virtual visitors, with children from Currumbin Village Early Learning Centre enjoying a live Zoom tour hosted by Mikey, our Amphibian Conservationist. The students learned about the Tinkerfrog Breed for Release program and got an up-close look at frogs, eggs, and tadpoles.

Do you know where the Tinkerfrog has its name from? Check out this page to find out, plus more interesting facts about this tiny frog!

Looking Ahead

None of this work would be possible without the ongoing support of our community. From breeding and rearing frogs in the Frog Lab to long days in the field monitoring and releasing them back into the wild, every milestone is backed by people who care deeply about conservation.

If you’d like to support the Tinkerfrog conservation program, one simple way is by donating a wishlist item such as specialised field equipment, habitat monitoring tools, or food for frogs being raised for release. These items directly support our conservation team and help ensure more Tinkerfrogs can safely return to the wild.

Together, we’re giving this tiny frog a fighting chance.