Now that really did grate on my emotions. The reality is far different. You see since the mid 1970's NPWS officials, in particular those from licensing and law enforcement sections have actively discouraged research into and conservation of the State's frogs. This policy has also coincided with the rapid decline of many species including the Corroboree Frog. Some species are now believed to have become extinct during this period.
Captive populations are of course an insurance against unforseen extinctions in the wild.
Instead the private keepers were effectively harassed out of existence. A similar picture exists in states such as Queensland, where frog species such as those of the genera Taudactylus and Rheobatrachus may no longer exist as a direct result of restrictive State Wildlife Authority policies and actions. A similar situation exists with birds and aviculture. With various threats facing many native birds, the only hope for survival for many species could be captive breeding by aviculturists. There are too many examples for me to list here.