Extinct Frog Returns to the Wild With Help of 'Frog Spas' and 'Frog Saunas'

After vanishing from Australia's capital for nearly half a century, a beautiful species of frog is making an extraordinary comeback—with a little help from what scientists are calling "frog spas" and "frog saunas."

The green and golden bell frog, a stunning amphibian with emerald skin and golden spots, was declared extinct in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) around Canberra by 1981. Now, in 2026, over 300 captive-bred frogs are being released back into wetlands where they once thrived, protected by an ingenious network of wellness centers designed just for them.

Welcome to the Frog Spa

No, it's not a joke. Scientists at the University of Canberra have created "frog spas"—warm, slightly saline ponds that mimic the conditions where wild populations managed to survive outside the ACT. The frogs love these toasty waters, which maintain temperatures around 30°C (88°F), perfectly suited to their biology.

But the real innovation? The frog saunas.

These structures are ingeniously simple: piles of black bricks arranged with slots and holes for the frogs to shelter in, covered by a pyramid of rigid plastic sheets. The black bricks absorb heat, creating warm microclimates inside—warm enough to be lethal to the chytrid fungus that nearly wiped out the species.

The chytrid fungus has been responsible for extinctions and population collapses of amphibians worldwide. It's been one of the most devastating wildlife diseases in history. But this fungus has an Achilles heel: it can't survive temperatures over 25°C (77°F), and at 27-28°C, it dies.

The green and golden bell frogs, meanwhile, prefer basking at a cozy 30°C. The saunas give them a place to warm up, boost their immune systems, and literally cook the fungus to death.

A Harrowing Brush With Oblivion

The green and golden bell frog's disappearance from the ACT wasn't an isolated tragedy. Chytrid fungus has devastated frog populations on nearly every continent, causing what scientists consider one of the worst wildlife pandemics in recorded history.

In Australia, the frogs that managed to survive did so in unusual refuges: ponds with slightly saline water, which the fungus doesn't tolerate well. These isolated populations hung on by a thread, clinging to existence in a handful of wetlands.

Associate Professor Simon Clulow from the University of Canberra said the reintroduction has been "quite incredible."

"As far as we're aware, it went extinct [in the ACT] by about 1981," he told The Guardian. Watching the frogs return after 45 years has been emotional for the research team. "It's a little like watching your children move out of the house for the first time," Clulow said.

180 Saunas, 15 Ponds, One Goal

The scale of the recovery project is impressive. Scientists have installed 180 frog saunas around the ACT's wetlands, strategically positioned near the 15 ponds where the frogs will be released.

More than 300 captive-bred frogs—each one immunized against chytrid disease—are being released in groups of 15 into these carefully selected habitats. And the scientists aren't just hoping for survival; they're planning for explosion.

Each female green and golden bell frog can produce around 8,000 eggs in a single mating season. While the first generation of released frogs is immune to chytrid, their offspring won't be. That's where the saunas become critical infrastructure: future generations will use them to fight off the fungus naturally.

The goal is ambitious but achievable: 200 frogs at each of the 15 ponds, creating a robust, self-sustaining population across the region.

Why This Matters Beyond One Frog

The green and golden bell frog recovery isn't just a feel-good story—it's a blueprint.

Scientists worldwide are watching this project because chytrid fungus remains one of the biggest threats to amphibians globally. If the frog sauna model works in Canberra, it could be replicated anywhere chytrid is decimating frog populations.

The strategy is elegant in its simplicity: use the frogs' natural behavior (they love to bask in warm spots) and the fungus's weakness (it dies in heat) to create safe havens. No expensive pharmaceuticals, no complex genetic engineering—just smart design that works with nature, not against it.

Other frog species facing similar threats could benefit from the same approach. Already, conservationists are experimenting with variations on the concept in Switzerland (where 422 new ponds led to a population explosion of endangered frogs), the Andes (where new species are still being discovered on remote peaks), and the United States (where endangered mountain frogs have been bred in captivity for the first time).

A Once-in-a-Career Moment

For the scientists involved, this project represents the culmination of years—sometimes decades—of work.

The green and golden bell frog is one of Australia's most iconic amphibians. Its disappearance was mourned by ecologists who feared they'd lost it forever. Now, against the odds, it's coming home.

The frogs have been released into wetlands that were once part of their native range, but which have been vacant of their croaking calls for 45 years. When the first breeding season arrives and the ponds fill with the chorus of thousands of green and golden bell frogs, it will be a sound no one alive today has heard in the ACT.

It will be the sound of extinction reversed.

The Road Ahead

The project is just beginning. The first releases happened in early February 2026, and scientists will be monitoring the frogs closely over the coming months and years.

Will the captive-bred frogs adapt to life in the wild? Will they reproduce successfully? Will the saunas provide enough protection for their offspring?

Early signs are encouraging. The frogs are exploring their new habitats, using the saunas, and settling into the spa ponds. But the true test will come when the first wild-born generation emerges and faces the chytrid fungus without the immunity their parents received.

If the saunas work as designed, those young frogs will survive. They'll grow, reproduce, and fill the wetlands with life once more.

Why "Frog Spas" and "Frog Saunas" Are Genius

Beyond the science, there's something brilliant about the naming. "Frog spas" and "frog saunas" are whimsical, memorable, and accessible. They transform a complex conservation project into something anyone can understand and care about.

Conservation efforts often struggle with public engagement. People tune out when faced with jargon about "pathogen mitigation strategies" or "thermal refugia." But "frog spas"? That's a story you tell your friends.

And that matters. Conservation needs funding, political support, and community buy-in. When people care about a project, it's more likely to succeed. The researchers at the University of Canberra understood this instinctively—they gave their work a name that invites curiosity and delight.

It's a reminder that science communication is just as important as the science itself.

Hope in a Warming World

In an era of grim environmental news—species going extinct, habitats vanishing, climate chaos accelerating—the return of the green and golden bell frog is a rare, shining victory.

It proves that extinction doesn't have to be forever. With creativity, determination, and smart design, we can bring species back from the brink.

The frog saunas are a testament to human ingenuity in service of nature. They're low-tech, low-cost, and highly effective—exactly the kind of solution we need more of.

And as the frogs settle into their new homes, basking in the warmth of their wellness centers, they're writing a new chapter in conservation history: one where humans don't just watch species disappear, but actively work to bring them back.

For the green and golden bell frog, the future looks warm, slightly saline, and full of hope. 🐸💚