The Australian defence force flew threatened species experts into remote parts of Kosciuszko national park after bushfires burnt enclosures for the southern corroboree frog.
Three out of four enclosures that protect the critically endangered frogs from the deadly chytrid fungus were burnt in recent fires and the fourth is still threatened by an active fire.
The NSW environment minister, Matt Kean, said experts were flown in to assess the impact of the fires. They found several of the frogs had died.
Habitat inside the enclosures, as well as the irrigation equipment, has been damaged, but the fences themselves remain intact.
Kean said the team of experts had begun work to ensure the surviving animals had adequate refuge and food.
“Sadly, a number of the frogs perished and so all our efforts are now focused on protecting the remaining frogs by reinforcing moist habitat refuges in the enclosures and checking there’s enough food for the colourful but tiny amphibians,” he said.
Kean said it was a setback for the critically endangered frog, which is one of the species environment groups have said they hold immediate concerns for as a result of the fires.
He said the species was still secure because of captive breeding programs at Taronga Zoo, Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary.
Experts warned weeks ago there could also be concern for the critically-endangered northern corroboree frog if fire moved into the Namadgi national park, which has now occurred. Namadgi national park is not far from Ginini Flats, where the northern corroboree frog is found.
Deon Gilbert is a threatened species biologist with Zoos Victoria. He said the southern corroboree frog lived in the sort of environment where fires occur and should be able to respond to a certain amount of fire in the landscape.
“The compounding issue here is there are repeated fires over the short-term destroying habitat,” he said.
