The 2019/20 bushfires affecting the east coast of Australia have exacerbated the ongoing biodiversity crisis, with an estimated 3 billion animals killed or displaced by the fires (51 million of which were frogs). With many frog species already threatened prior to the fires, innovative solutions are needed to increase the output of conservation actions already commonly used. Biobanking cryopreserved sperm has the potential to advance conservation efforts by preserving the genetic diversity of species, allowing correction of inbreeding depression caused by habitat disruptions such as fire. 

This project aimed to mitigate future effects of bushfires by collecting and storing sperm from several threatened species/populations in bushfire affected areas of Australia. We collected over 400 straws of sperm from more than 100 individuals across 10 species. Sperm collection and cryopreservation were conducted in the field, with frogs returned following sperm collection.