AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION (Australia) 17 February 06 Frog farm aims to stop endangered species croaking
Western Australia's first dedicated frog farm is set to get approval in Waroona, in the state's south-west, as part of efforts to save the western green tree frog from extinction.
The frogs are only found in the south-west corner of WA, but have become endangered due to urban development and introduced predators.
The Froget-Me-Not Farm would run breeding and research programs and provide tours and educational material for schools and the general public.
Proponent Deirdre Whiting says the frogs need a helping hand to boost their population.
"What we hope to do is breed, obviously, a healthy stock of western green tree frogs ... as well as researching what we can do to make sure that we have continual stocks of native frogs," she said.
She says it is crucial that the frogs survive because they are a reliable indicator of the health of their ecosystems.
"Western green tree frogs, and we have one other species of tree frog, which is a slender tree frog, live in our waterways. If they die in our waterways, it means that there is something radically wrong with our ecosystem," she said.
Waroona Shire councillors will this month consider a town planning scheme amendment needed to allow the proposal to proceed.
Frog farm aims to stop endangered species croaking