Tidbinbilla

Tidbinbilla manages highly successful breeding programs for the critically endangered Northern Corroboree Frog and the Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby on behalf of the ACT Government.

Northern Corroboree Frog

You can see the tiny but vividly coloured Northern Corroboree Frogs at the Tidbinbilla Visitor Centre. After a successful first year breeding of 190 Northern Corroboree Frog eggs, nothing prepared us for the amount of eggs produced during 2008/2009, collecting over 900 eggs from the breeding frogs. Another year of breeding success brings us a step closer to saving this distinctively coloured frog species. Tidbinbilla currently have more Northern Corroboree Frogs in captivity than exist in the wild. Breeding and raising frogs in captivity has a far greater survivorship rate than in the wild. The frogs housed at Tidbinbilla are able to grow in a relatively stable environment with minimal disturbances compared to those frogs in the wild, where they face threats as feral pests trampling habitat, and the introduced chytrid fungus. Research is currently taking place to evaluate whether a percentage of the captive population at Tidbinbillawill be released back into the wild to boost existing wild population numbers. With more frogs released back into the wild, the plan is that the frogs will become self sustaining and re-establish strong colonies which will give them a greater buffer against threatening processes. A small insurance population of Northern Corroboree Frogs are located at Healesville Sanctuary (VIC) and Taronga Zoo (NSW). 

Find out more about the Northern Corroboree Frogs on our regular Explore program activities "Riveting Reptiles and Fabulous Frogs".  

Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby

It is estimated there is less than 40 Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies left in the wild in Australia. Tidbinbilla currently has approximately 70% of the captive breeding population in Australia. 2011 was an extremely successful year with a record number of 14 joeys being born. Tidbinbilla previously bred 10 joeys in 2010.  Currently there have been six births for 2012. Tidbinbilla has now supplied 14 captive-bred Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies for release into the wild in Victoria, as part of a national recovery breeding program being undertaken between several agencies including the ACT Government (Tidbinbilla), Victorian Government (Department of Sustainability and Environment), Parks Victoria, Adelaide Zoo and Waterfall Springs Sanctuary. At the rock-wallaby habitat you may be lucky enough to catch sight of this shy wallaby basking on a rock.

Behind the scenes tours offer a unique insight to both of these programs as part of the Tidbinbilla Discover our Wild Side tour. 

Note there may be additional species bred in the near future.