MOUNTAIN-TOP NURSERY FROG
REDUCING FERAL PIG THREATS IN FROG HABITAT
Overview
This project is helping to protect the critically endangered mountain-top nursery frog (monticola cophixalus) by reducing the impact of feral pigs around breeding sites. Terrain NRM is working closely with several partner organisations to deliver this project at Mt Lewis, west of Port Douglas.
Background
Mountain-top nursery frogs have a tiny distribution on a few ridge tops, about 1100m high in the cloud forests – very damp, moist, dripping forests.
Their limited distribution means that limate change and global warming are a major threat to their continued existence. Breeding sites used to be common at 1100m, but they’re now moving higher up and are more likely to be located at 1300m. While there is little we can do to fix this, we can help the frog by tackling another major threat – feral pigs. Feral pig numbers have been exploding over recent years and they’re causing major damage in our rainforests for important frog habitat.
Solutions
- Pig exclusion fencing around breeding sites
- Pig control
Location
Mt Lewis
Partners
Traditional Owners (Western Yalanji), Gulf Savannah NRM, QPWS, James Cook University.
Funders
These projects are supported by Terrain NRM through funding from the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species program.
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