2021 | 3m | Language: English

Cracking The Croak

It can take years for a science story to end in a breakthrough moment. Most days, it's moving the needle that little bit forward. But some subjects don't make that easy. This mini-doc follows a PhD student's work to monitor New Zealand's endangered frogs. Animals so quiet, so hard to find, that herpetologist Joe has to invent a new way to track them: tiny radio beltpacks!

An official selection of 2023's Good Natured Film Festival, this story is proof that progress, however small, deserves its flowers. That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for the frogs.

topics: biotelemetry, behavioural ecology, amphibian conservation

watch it here!

Close-up of a person with a frog on a white surface, with large text overlay saying 'Crack the Croak' and smaller text 'With Joe Altobelli', and a YouTube icon with the words 'Short Film'.

GALLERY

Close-up of a frog sitting on moss and leaf litter in a forest environment.

A white mannequin with no head or arms positioned on the ground among green leaves and dried brown leaves, with various plants and foliage around.

A scientist in a white lab coat and gloves working with a transparent container in a laboratory. There are shelves with plants in tanks on either side of the scientist.

A young man with short dark hair, light skin, and a mustache, standing amid lush green fern plants. He is wearing a dark sweater and is outdoors, possibly in a greenhouse or botanical garden.

Close-up of a small frog on a gloved hand.

A small frog with dark, bumpy skin resting on dark mud surrounded by dried leaves, grass, and moss in a damp, forest-like environment.

A frog with green and brown camouflaged skin blending into muddy and leaf-covered forest floor.

A small frog with dark brown and black mottled skin lying on a white surface. A tiny medical device with wires is attached to its back, possibly for scientific study or health monitoring.

Close-up of a small frog camouflaged on dark, moist soil with green and brown coloration blending with surroundings.

“These are protected species in New Zealand. There's not many of them left.
So any work that we do with these animals is extremely important.”

edited with:

Graphic of blue headphones over a yellow background with red and orange sound wave pattern.

featuring:

Joseph T. ALTOBELLI (University of Otago)
Olivia T. PEEBLES | NARRATOR (University of Otago)

literature:

Altobelli JT, Bishop PJ, Dickinson KJM, Godfrey SS (2023) Suitability of radio telemetry for monitoring two New Zealand frogs (Leiopelma archeyi and L. hamiltoni). New Zealand Journal of Ecology 47(2): A6. [PDF]