The back story

In the winter of 2021, a mass mortality event of frogs occurred across Australia, triggered by a surge in reports of sick and dead frogs on social media. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, we had to pivot any plans to visit these affected areas and instead asked the public to report all cases to the Australian Museum. In one day, we received 250 reports, revealing the vast scale of the issue, with over 40 frog species affected, including threatened species. After an urgent fundraising appeal, we were able to start investigating the nature, cause and impact of this mortality event. The Australian Museum continues to investigate, receive reports and collect frog samples for testing, helping us better understand the issue and respond quickly if another event arises.


How your donation can help

Ongoing research into frog mortality is only made possible with the support we receive through donations. This enables us to:

  • Raise awareness of frog mortality and track reports of sick and dead frogs, aiding early detection of mass die-offs.
  • Test dead and wild frogs for diseases like chytrid fungus and other pathogens to understand infection rates and their impact on frog populations.
  • Conduct field surveys to assess frog health in vulnerable species and areas.
  • Map the spread of chytrid fungus to guide conservation efforts and protect at-risk species.

Make a donation today and help protect Australia’s frogs.



Donations of $2 and over are fully tax-deductible*.


Other ways you can support

If you observe a sick or dead frog

Please email your observation (including photos and location information - if possible) to the Australian Museum's Herpetology team at calls@frogid.net.au.

Please be advised that any personal information you provide to the AM is shared with the relevant government departments for this purpose and is subject to the AM’s Privacy Policy. If you do not wish for your personal information to be shared with the government departments and agencies you must advise the AM by emailing calls@frogid.net.au with the subject line “Opt-out - Frog death research”.


Download and record frog calls with the free FrogID app

FrogID is the Australian Museum’s flagship citizen science project that is helping us learn more about where frogs are distributed and what is happening to Australia’s frogs. All around the country, people are recording frog calls with the free FrogID app. Your FrogID submissions will help understand Australia’s frog populations now and into the future.



Learn more

Watch our past webinar

Listen to our webinar with the Australian Museum’s Chief Scientist & Director of the Australian Museum Research Institute, Professor Kris Helgen and the Australian Museum’s Amphibian & Reptile Curator, Dr Jodi Rowley to learn more about this serious conservation issue impacting Australia’s frog species.



Media reports


FAQs

Please wear a new pair of disposable gloves (or new plastic bags) for each frog and wash hands thoroughly after handling to avoid any potential spread of diseases. It is important that a clean pair of gloves or a clean bag is used for each frog. Used bags can be placed in your general rubbish bin.

For more information on safe handling of frogs, please visit https://arwh.org/amphibian-disease-knowledgebase/.


Some steps we can take to minimise the possibility of transfer of disease from one site to another is to clean and disinfect our footwear, equipment and vehicles between locations.

For more detailed information on hygiene protocols that can be used for frogs, please see here.


If you observe a sick or dead frog, please email your observation (including photos and location information, if possible) to the Australian Museum’s Herpetology team at calls@frogid.net.au.

New information on collection procedures, authorised vets and agencies becomes available each day and every report will receive a tailored response.


Sick frogs typically need urgent veterinary care, but it can be difficult to tell when a frog is sick. Please contact the Australian Museum’s FrogID team at calls@frogid.net.au and we will help you assess the frog and connect you to a local vet that is aware of this event and has the necessary information to test/treat sick frogs.

If you are a vet that is interested in helping us, please get in touch by emailing calls@frogid.net.au. We will add you to our team of collaborators and send you relevant information.

More information is available here.


At this stage, we are only receiving reports of sick and dead adult frogs, but if you observe die-offs of tadpoles in your area, please contact the Australian Museum FrogID team at calls@frogid.net.au. Please include photos and location information, if possible.


We still have a lot to learn about what’s causing the current mass die-off of frogs across eastern Australia and how it can impact the broader environment and other species.

The amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) is only known to infect frogs and other amphibians, causing chytridiomycosis, a disease that is unique to amphibians. Although it is possible that other animals may transfer the pathogen from one area to another, no other animal groups are known to be infected by this pathogen. Indeed, the fungus does not tolerate human or mammal body temperatures well, preferring cooler temperatures.

The amphibian chytrid fungus is particularly detrimental to amphibians such as frogs because it attacks the keratin in the skin, and frogs rely heavily on their skin, including to help breathe and drink.

This disease is the major suspect in causing this current mass die-off, but at this stage we simply don’t know, and we need to rule out a range of other pathogens, toxins and stressors. The Australian Museum is working with the Australian Registry of Wildlife Health and other state and federal conservation and biosecurity agencies to determine what is causing this frog mortality event- and we need your help!

For more information on amphibian chytrid fungus, please visit the Australian Registry of Wildlife Health at https://arwh.org/amphibian-disease-knowledgebase/.


Certain frog species are more susceptible to the amphibian chytrid fungus than others, and the impacts of infection can vary dramatically depending on environmental conditions.

Some species that suffered dramatic declines due to the amphibian chytrid fungus have been ‘bouncing back’ in recent years, providing hope that some frog populations are becoming more resistant- much research is underway across Australia, and indeed the world.

For detailed information on the history of amphibian chytrid fungus, please visit the Australian Registry of Wildlife Health at https://arwh.org/amphibian-disease-knowledgebase/.


Everyone can assist by recording frog calls with the free FrogID app to help us understand how frogs are doing across the country.

Limiting chemical use, reducing pollution, controlling invasive fish populations, and providing more frog-friendly habitat can also help boost healthy frog numbers. Providing or protecting habitat for local threatened species is particularly important. You can use the FrogID app to find local threatened species and learn more about them and their habitat requirements. Your Local Land Services or other local government agencies should be able to assist, and feel free to reach out to the FrogID team at calls@frogid.net.au

Cleaning and disinfecting footwear and tyres, and not translocating frogs and tadpoles from one location to another helps limit the risk of disease transfer. Once we understand the cause of this mortality event we will be able to provide advice on things you can do to help your local frogs in the face of it.

Donations to support our urgent appeal to help save Australia’s frogs can also be made below.


Yes, Cane Toads can also be affected by the amphibian chytrid fungus and are currently being reported dead and dying along with our native frogs. Please report unusual observations of Cane Toad deaths to the FrogID team.


For any questions regarding the FrogID app, please visit https://www.frogid.net.au/faq or contact calls@frogid.net.au.