Release of 200 froglets and 1,200 tadpoles aims to revive endangered Watson's tree frog in East Gippsland

The low, baritone call of Watson's tree frog could soon be heard again in Victoria's far east after a captive breeding program released 200 froglets and 1,200 tadpoles into East Gippsland. Melbourne Zoo carried out the release following a successful breeding effort, and scientists from Zoos Victoria and conservation group Wild Research said it was the program's first release this year.

The species is native to eastern Victoria and south-eastern New South Wales and was hit hard by the Black Summer bushfires, which destroyed about 80 per cent of its habitat. In East Gippsland, the frog is only known to persist at 10 sites, with breeding recorded at only half of those locations.

Wild Research project leader Matt West said he hoped the release marked a turning point. "It's great news because we only know of the frog at 10 small sites, and these releases have allowed us to reintroduce the frog to an additional 30 sites," he said. Watson's tree frogs are about 6 centimetres long, brown with bright orange thighs.

Although part of the whistling tree frog family, they are distinguished by a slow, baritone call. Listed as nationally endangered, they are rarely seen in the wild. After 19 years without a sighting, a small group was observed in 2015, easing fears the species had vanished.

Researchers say the frogs are also notable for a distinctive scent — described by Dr West as similar to curry leaves — which, along with their call, has helped guide field searches. Scientists will continue to monitor the released frogs to track their numbers and assess how they are faring in the wild.

Despite the latest boost, the species remains under pressure. Ongoing habitat destruction and disease continue to threaten its survival, underscoring the stakes of the breeding and release effort now underway.