{"id":405536,"date":"2010-03-08T21:01:47","date_gmt":"2010-03-09T02:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/green.yahoo.com\/blog\/guest_bloggers\/23\/extinct-frog-rediscovered-in-australia.html"},"modified":"2010-03-08T21:01:47","modified_gmt":"2010-03-09T02:01:47","slug":"extinct-frog-rediscovered-in-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/405536","title":{"rendered":"Extinct frog rediscovered in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"yellow
\nImage credit: AP Photo<\/em><\/p>\n

A small frog that had been declared extinct more than 30 years ago
\nhas been rediscovered in Australia. Litoria
\n castanea<\/em><\/a>, better known as the “yellow-spotted bell frog” or
\nthe “tablelands
\n bell frog<\/a>,” was found in a creek bed on private property by
\nbiologists Luke Pearce and David Hunter.<\/p>\n

Hunter, who is a frog expert with the New South Wales Environment
\nDepartment, commented
\n that<\/a> “this was definitely the most exciting moment of my career and
\n I will be surprised if I repeat it.” He went on to say that the
\ndiscovery highlights the important roll property owners play in
\nconservation efforts.<\/p>\n

He explained:<\/p>\n

The property owner at this particular site is extremely
\nexcited about having this critically endangered frog species on his
\nland, and is very much looking forward to working with us in
\ncollaboration towards the conservation of the bell frog.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The exact location of the discovery will remain a secret to protect
\nthe fragile frog population and the homeowner’s property.<\/p>\n

State Environment Minister Frank Sartor said he
\nwas<\/a> “advised that finding this frog is as significant a discovery as
\n a Tasmanian tiger.”<\/p>\n

One of the frogs and a tadpole were collected and brought to
\nSydney’s Taronga Zoo<\/a> where biologists and conservationists hope to establish a
\ncaptive breeding program.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

David DeFranza is assistant editor at Treehugger<\/a>,
\n where this post originally appeared.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

More from TreeHugger<\/strong><\/p>\n