Amphibian week in Nepal

Amphibians represent a diverse array of creatures that have captivated the interest of both scientists and nature enthusiasts. Renowned for their extraordinary ability to thrive in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, examples of amphibians include frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. According to the 2024 Amphibia web database, there are a staggering 8,737 species of amphibians worldwide. In Nepal, as outlined in ‘An Updated Checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles of Nepal’, the amphibian fauna comprises 57 species spread across 22 genera, eight families, and three orders, with Nepal hosting 55 frog species, one salamander species, and one caecilian species.

In Nepal, amphibians are least studied creatures due to conservation efforts tend to prioritize furry and and feathery vertebrate species, such as tigers, snow leopards, and rhinos.This is because amphibians  are not considered charismatic enough to receive the same level of attention and conservation focus.  As a consequence of this bias in conservation focus, there is limited knowledge shared among people about small species like frogs, salamanders and caecilians.There are only very few organizations working in such species in Nepal to popularize them like Nepal Conservation and Research Center (NCRC), Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society (BRCS) and Environment Protection and Study Center (ENPROSC).

NCRC is working in the ‘Himalayan Frogs Conservation Initiative in Nepal’, ‘Lowland frogs of Nepal’ and collaboratively with BRCS in ‘Himalayan Salamander Conservation Project’. Similarly, ENPROSC is working on the ‘Croaking Monsoon Project’ which is the citizen science approach to explore the ecology of frogs throughout Nepal. Sadly, due to lack of funding only little ecology of these amphibians are studied but the behavior, reproductive biology and genetics of the creatures are poorly known.

These remarkable creatures play vital roles within ecosystems, serving as both predators, which help regulate populations of insects and other small invertebrates, and as essential food sources for larger predators. By occupying various niches within food webs, amphibians contribute significantly to the equilibrium and stability of ecosystems.

For the rest of the world, worshiping frogs sounds bizarre, but the native inhabitants (Newars) of Kathmandu, Nepal have been following the ritual for many decades. The tradition has been named ‘Byan: jaa nakegu’ meaning to feed rice to frogs. The exact answer is unknown why people continue to feed and worship frogs. Whatever the initial reasons and stories might be, many believe the rituals of feeding and worshiping frogs reminds people of their connection with nature.Similarly, the people of Nepal perform marriage ceremonies of frogs if there is long drought in the belief that their marriage will bring the rain.

Moreover,frogs locally called as Paha are also collected and  consumed in Nepal. The collection is primarily for food use and secondarily preferred as medicinal forms, and utilized by many ethnic groups like Magar, Rai, Gurung, Jirel, etc. in different parts of the country. In context, caecilian people immediately kill them after seeing them thinking they are venomous snakes.

In addition to this, Himalayan Salamander in eastern Nepal is facing multiple threats such as introduction of exotic fishes in its habitats, modification of its habitat into picnic or recreational sites. Such local extirpation will make us lose an order from Nepal.

Herpetologist Bivek Gautam explains that studying salamanders and caecilians presents numerous challenges. Due to their small size, these creatures often go unnoticed by people, making it difficult to conduct fieldwork and raise awareness about these fascinating species.

Similarly, herpetologist Santosh Bhattarai says that amphibians are encountering several challenges, including habitat loss, water pollution, and the unregulated use of chemicals in agriculture. Additionally, illegal trade and hunting pose significant threats. Furthermore, he added, the lack of research on amphibians in Nepal is concerning, as it increases the risk of extinction before their proper documentation and identification.

Observing this scenario, ‘Amphibian Week’ was celebrated on May 9 with students from the New Ekta English Boarding School in the Madhes, aimed at raising awareness about amphibians. The program was attended by 55 students. The event included presentations, demonstrations of research techniques and tools, documentary screenings, and poster distributions, all designed to inspire and motivate conservation efforts for amphibians within their locality. This initiative received support from organizations such as the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund, Nepal Conservation and Research Center, Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society, and SAVE THE FROGS.

In conclusion, amphibians possess remarkable characteristics, including unique life cycles and adaptations, and they fulfill crucial roles within ecosystems while also serving as indicators of environmental health. Therefore, safeguarding and conserving their habitats are imperative for their survival and the overall well-being of the ecosystems they inhabit. Let us unite at the community level to contribute to amphibian conservation efforts.