Monsoon Croaks Bioblitz:
The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) is organising Monsoon Croaks Bioblitz 2024.
- The “Monsoon Croaks Bioblitz” is a four-month-long public participation science project aimed at documenting the frogs of Kerala during the monsoon season, running from June to September.
- The scientific observations will be part of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database, which can be used for biodiversity awareness, habitat conservation, species conservation etc.
- The project aims to identify key habitats to protect frogs, which serve as indicators of the ecosystem’s health.
- Factors such as climate change, untimely rainfall patterns, habitat loss, and water pollution are challenging the survival of frogs, leading to 41% of the world’s frogs being on the IUCN Red List of endangered species.
- Kerala alone has more than 200 frog species, emphasising the importance of conservation efforts.
- The topmost observed species is the Wayanad Bush Frog (Pseudophilautus wynaadensis) followed by the Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus).
- The important amphibian species recorded includes Critically Endangered Resplendent Shrub frog (Raorchestes resplendens), Endangered Malabar Torrent Toad (Blaira ornata), Vulnerable Anaimalai Flying Frog (Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus) and the Near Threatened Purple Frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis).
