Extinct Frog Species Rediscovered In New South Wales

It is pretty amazing but not surprising that this frog once thought extinct is actually still alive in Australia:

An Australian frog which disappeared nearly 40 years ago and was feared extinct has been rediscovered in a remote creek, astounding experts.

A state government scientist spotted an unusual species during a trip to New South Wales’ Southern Tablelands, and later returned with a frog specialist to confirm the Yellow-Spotted Bell Frog’s first sighting since 1973.

“This was definitely the most exciting moment of my career and I will be surprised if I repeat it,” doctor David Hunter, who was led to a thriving community of the frogs by conservation officer Luke Pearce, said Thursday.

State environment minister Frank Sartor said the re-emergence of the green and gold amphibian showed the importance of protecting natural habitats.

“I’m advised that finding this frog is as significant a discovery as a Tasmanian tiger,” he said, referring to an animal which is believed to have died out last century.  [AFP]

Australia has so much remote wilderness such a find of a small frog like this is not surprising me.  However, I doubt a larger animal like the Tasmanian Tiger will ever be found again.  This discovery of this frog reminds of the discovery of another long extinct species, the Wollemi Pine which was also found in the remote New South Wales wilderness.