SAVE TINKERFROGS FROM EXTINCTION

TINKERFROGS ARE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.

POTENTIALLY LESS THAN 150 IN EXISTENCE.

DONATE TODAY - EXTINCTION IS FOREVER.

The Kroombit Tinkerfrog (Taudactylus pleione) is listed as critically endangered. There are potentially less than 150 individual frogs of this species in existence today, and despite many years of targeted research the eggs and tadpoles have never been observed…until now.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Conservation team are the first in the world to successfully breed a Taudactylus species in captivity.

Why the Tinkerfrog is critically important for our environment

Kroombit Tinkerfrog populations are affected by habitat degradation caused by introduced pest species and bush fires, however, the amphibian chytrid fungus is likely to be the most significant factor in the decline of this species. This pathogen has spread to many parts of the world and is thought to be the main contributor to the disappearance of around 200 amphibian species since the 1980s.

There is currently no cure for the deadly chytrid fungus, so it is crucial to understand more about amphibians that have survived the disease. Through this program of recovering the critically endangered Kroombit Tinkerfrog, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s Conservation team has been able to gather important information that will help protect other amphibian species around the world.

Why are the Tinkerfrogs so important to humans?

Frog slime has been used by scientists to understand how to combat infections, bites, cancer, heart disorders, allergies, inflammation, pain, AIDS HIV, herpes, and the common flu. This method of mining proteins that animals use to fight off germs, such as that found in amphibian mucus has proven to assist human medicine in many ways. In particular, as humans become more resistant to antibiotics, the toxins on the skin of frogs present a huge opportunity for new ways to combat human health issues.

If frogs were to disappear, potentially they could take these valuable chemicals with them.

How you can help

The Frog Lab at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is literally saving the frog species. Although we need your help to keep the tadpoles, froglets and founding frogs alive.

Currumbin Wildlife Conservation wish list

Back-up generator for Frog Lab $19,800

Froglet rearing enclosures $2,340

Quarantine footwear $840

Chytrid testing - ~80 frogs (first release 2022) $5,200

Equipment sterilizer (low temperature oven) $2,300

Weighing Scales $3,460

pH reader $1,200

Water quality Test kits $280

Head torches $400

Field equipment (bio-acoustic recorders) $22,000

Temperature data loggers $280

Data logger readers $150

Portable refrigerators $260

Tinkerfrog Breeding Enclosure $1,050

Tinkerfrog Breeding Tank Stand (for 3 tanks) $1,680

Tadpole Tank set up $4,010

Submersible pumps (tadpole tanks) $450

TOTAL WISHLIST VALUE $65,700

THANK YOU!