A long-winded, slightly unhinged, but genuinely educational Frogfather-style deep dive into Australia’s Green and Golden Bell Frog comeback — and why a terrible pun might save amphibians.

The Clicking-Point: Yes, There’s a Frog Called “Dua Leaper”

Somewhere in Australia, in a wetland that sounds like it should come with a nature documentary narrator and an overly dramatic violin soundtrack, a frog has been released back into the wild with a nickname so powerful it can be heard echoing through the internet: Dua Leaper.

Which is obviously the sound you make when you’re trying to say “Dua Lipa” while holding a wriggly amphibian and getting lightly splashed in the face. And look — I’m not saying the frog is dropping an album this year, but I am saying it has a better comeback story than most celebrities.

Because this isn’t just a funny name. It’s part of a real conservation push to bring back the Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) to wetlands in the ACT after chytrid fungus wiped them out locally decades ago.

Meet the Real Star: The Green and Golden Bell Frog (Not a Pop Singer, Sadly)

The Green and Golden Bell Frog is one of Australia’s most iconic amphibians — bright green with golden striping, fairly chunky for a frog, and historically common enough that it wasn’t exactly hard to find if you knew where to look.

It can grow to around 8.5cm, which in frog terms is basically “tall enough to reach the top shelf and judge you for your life choices.” It’s semi-aquatic, tied strongly to wetlands, and can lay thousands of eggs when conditions are right.

Translation: if you give this species the right habitat and remove the main threats, it has the biological potential to bounce back in a big way. Frogs don’t do anything by halves — they either vanish quietly or they explode into a loud, chaotic breeding frenzy like they’ve just headlined Glastonbury.

The Villain Arc: Chytrid Fungus (The Absolute Worst Housemate on Earth)

Now for the bit where the vibes drop. The reason we’re even talking about “returning” these frogs is that chytrid fungus turned up and basically said: “Nice amphibian population you’ve got there… would be a shame if something happened to it.”

Chytridiomycosis is the disease caused by chytrid fungi (commonly Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, often shortened to Bd). It attacks amphibian skin — which is a problem because amphibians don’t just wear skin like a jacket. They breathe through it, manage hydration through it, and basically run half their internal systems through it.

The Guardian reports that chytrid has contributed to the decline of hundreds of amphibian species globally and has been linked with roughly 90 amphibian extinctions over 50 years.

That’s not a “nature is healing” moment — that’s a “nature is getting kicked in the teeth” moment.

The Big Comeback: Frogs Returned to ACT Wetlands After 40+ Years

The Green and Golden Bell Frog disappeared from parts of the ACT back in the 1980s. Not “declined a bit.” Not “harder to spot.” More like: gone.

But scientists and conservation teams have been working on a plan that is equal parts clever science, practical habitat engineering, and “why does this sound like a luxury resort brochure?”

According to the report, the project involves releasing frogs back into the wild (starting with an initial group of 25 frogs), with a larger goal of releasing 375 frogs across 15 wetland sites. The frogs are also microchipped for monitoring.

The Part You’ll Tell Your Mates: Scientists Built Frog Spas and Frog Saunas

Yes. You read that correctly. There are frog spas. There are frog saunas. And frankly, I feel robbed that my council tax doesn’t include access to either.

The Guardian describes the installation of around 60 “frog spas” (saltier water areas) and 180 “frog saunas” (warm shelters that can push frogs into temperature ranges that are hostile to chytrid).

Here’s the important bit: chytrid fungus tends to struggle at higher temperatures, while the frog can tolerate and benefit from warmth. The article notes chytrid doesn’t like temperatures above roughly 25–28°C, whereas these frogs do better closer to 30°C.

So the strategy is basically: “Give the frogs a warm option so they can self-manage disease risk.” Which is the wild equivalent of giving your immune system a hoodie and a hot chocolate.

Okay, But Why the Name Matters (And Why You Should Absolutely Use It in Your Reel)

Conservation has a PR problem. Not because it’s boring — it’s because it’s usually explained in a way that sounds like the instructions on a dishwasher tablet. Important? Yes. Clickable? Not always.

A frog called Dua Leaper is the opposite of that. It’s instantly shareable. It’s silly. It’s memorable. It makes people stop scrolling.

And once someone stops scrolling, you’ve got a chance to sneak in the real message: frogs are getting wiped out by disease and habitat loss — and we can actually do something about it.

The Frogfather Spin: Why This Matters to Keepers (Even in the UK)

Right, Frogfather hat on. If you keep amphibians — dart frogs, tree frogs, mossy frogs, anything that looks like it belongs in a rainforest — this story isn’t “some Aussie frog thing.” It’s a big flashing sign saying: biosecurity, microclimate, and husbandry are everything.

1) Chytrid Isn’t Just an “Australia Problem”

Chytrid is a global issue. The fact it has been implicated in massive declines and extinctions tells you all you need to know: amphibians are uniquely vulnerable because their skin is their whole life-support system.

That’s why responsible keepers obsess over quarantine, clean tools, and not mixing setups casually. It’s not paranoia — it’s amphibian reality.

2) Temperature and Micro-habitats Are Not “Optional Extras”

The entire “frog sauna” concept is basically what we do in a good vivarium: create micro-zones where the animal can choose what it needs. Warm spots, cool spots, humid zones, drier edges, shelter options.

This project reinforces a core keeper truth: the best setups don’t force one condition — they offer choices.

3) Frogs Can Rebound Fast When Conditions Are Right

If a species can lay thousands of eggs, the limiting factor isn’t “ability” — it’s “environment.” Fix the environment, reduce disease pressure, and suddenly populations can rocket.

How to Turn This into a Clickable Instagram Reel (Use This Whole Article as Your Script Bank)

Since you’re making a reel with both the frog and the artist, your hook is already gifted to you on a silver platter:

• “This frog is literally called Dua Leaper… and it’s not even the weirdest part.”
• “Australia built frog spas and saunas to fight a deadly fungus.”
• “This fungus has helped wipe out ~90 amphibian species.”
• “This is why your vivarium temps and microclimates actually matter.”

Then you hit them with the emotional arc: wiped out → science solution → reintroduced → named frogs → hope. People love hope. They also love puns. This is the rare time the internet can have both.

Wrap-Up: Dua Leaper Deserves the Hype

Look, Dua Lipa makes bangers. Respect. But Dua Leaper is out here doing an even more impressive performance: surviving a global amphibian apocalypse, returning to wetlands after decades, and accidentally becoming conservation clickbait in the best possible way.

And if a silly name gets more people reading about chytrid, habitat restoration, and why frogs need help? Then I’m all in.

Good luck, Dua Leaper. May your wetlands be warm, your fungus be weak, and your legacy be louder than a nightclub speaker at 2am.

Source: Reporting via The Guardian on the return of Green and Golden Bell Frogs to ACT wetlands and strategies to reduce chytrid disease impacts.