Photo: It's a Wildlife

Many amphibians in Australia and around the world have declined in recent years. One such species is the Spotted Tree Frog, Litoria spenceri, a mountain stream species from north-eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales. The spread of introduced trout coupled with habitat disturbances has reduced the distribution of this species to a few reaches of rocky mountain streams in just 13 river systems. 

More recently, a new amphibian disease, Chytridiomycosis (referred to as Amphibian Chytrid Fungus), is threatening the survival of this species in these remaining refuges. Declines in distribution and abundance throughout its range have resulted in this species being listed as threatened. The Spotted Tree Frog is listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.  It is also listed as Critically Endangered on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and by the IUCN (2007), and Endangered on the NSW Threatened Species and Communities Act 1995.

Captive breeding for release to support wild populations is an increasingly important element of a coordinated Recovery Program. Zoos Victoria became involved in this program in 1991.