Rediscovering Australia’s Lost Frogs

The term 'frog-biting' in the context of the film refers to blood-sucking flies that feed on frogs. The research team collects samples from these flies as part of their environmental DNA strategy. The assumption is that if these flies have recently fed on a Southern Gastric Brooding Frog, their digestive systems might contain traces of the frog's DNA, offering another avenue for detection.

This film resonates deeply with Australians as it explores the potential rediscovery of a unique native species. It highlights the biodiversity of the Australian landscape, particularly the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and the critical importance of conservation. The scientific endeavour, led by an Australian researcher, offers a compelling narrative about our country's natural heritage and the ongoing efforts to protect it.

The Southern Gastric Brooding Frog holds unique scientific importance due to its extraordinary reproductive behaviour. Females would swallow fertilised eggs and incubate them in their stomachs, giving birth to live young through their mouths. This remarkable adaptation, coupled with its presumed extinction, makes its potential rediscovery a major event for herpetology and conservation efforts in Australia.

Tim Cutajar is the central figure in 'Rediscovering Australia's Lost Frogs'. He is an Australian Museum and UNSW Sydney PhD Candidate and a Nat Geo Explorer. His passion and scientific expertise drive the expedition to find the Southern Gastric Brooding Frog. The film documents his dedication and the scientific methods he employs in this extraordinary quest.

The primary location for this ambitious search is the rugged and beautiful hinterland of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. This region is a known habitat for the Southern Gastric Brooding Frog, making it the logical place to look for any surviving populations. The film captures the team's efforts within this specific Australian landscape.

The team employs cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques. This involves collecting samples from the natural environment – water sources, the air, and even from biting insects like flies that may have fed on the frogs. By analysing this eDNA, they aim to detect microscopic traces left behind by the Southern Gastric Brooding Frog, providing scientific evidence of its survival or confirming its extinction.

The documentary centres on the elusive Southern Gastric Brooding Frog, a species believed to be extinct since the early 1980s. The film follows PhD candidate Tim Cutajar and his team as they venture into the Sunshine Coast hinterland on a quest to find any sign of its existence. Their innovative approach involves using environmental DNA collected from water, air, and even blood-sucking flies to forensically detect the presence of this long-lost amphibian.