Frogs are amphibian species that have essential ecological characteristics to balance the ecosystem. The species is considered as an indicator species of the ecosystem as even minor changes in the environment can affect them. Increasing anthropogenic influences to the species’ habitat can accelerate the population’s decline and push them toward extinction. The family Amolops genus consists of six different species, including Amolops mahabharatensis (a recent discovery of Nepal), it is also called as Mahabharat Torrent frog of the mountain region. The species consists of genetically and morphologically different features than previously known Amolops species.
The habitat
In Nepal, the habitat of Amolops mahabharatensis lies in 214-1,800 meters elevation range. As for specific sites, the species’ habitats include Sabha khola and Dobhan o(Sankhuwasabha district), Barahakshetra (Sunsari), Hattibang (Chitwan), Pokhara (Kaski) and Latinath (Darchula). Beyond the borders, the Sikkim region of India is also its habitat. The species are found on subtropical mixed forest riversides where the mature individuals are found on boulders of rapid river zones whereas the tadpoles stick to the rocks of the rivers.
Status of the species
This species features in the vulnerable category of the IUCN red list, pointing toward population declination across its habitat. The amphibian species are considered very sensitive toward their surroundings. Even minor changes in the environment can pose a serious threat to their survival. The Amolops mahabharatensis is facing tremendous pressure from anthropogenic activities and overexploitation. Throughout the mountainous region of Nepal, Paha hunting is a famous recreational activity with food value and medicinal purpose based on their indigenous knowledge.
Due to the species' considerable ethnozoological value to the nearby indigenous communities, the latter hunt the species extensively. For several ethnic communities of the mountainous region, the species are primarily a delicacy having medicinal properties.
Threats
Harvesting of mature species before their breeding period is a major cause behind species declination. Overexploitation of natural resources from the forest (wood, grasses, fodder) creates an edge effect on the species. On top of it, the introduction of invasive species—both plants and animals like fish—on the aquatic ecosystem can degrade aquatic health, where those species can alter the ambient temperature and ultraviolet radiation that directly affect sensitive amphibian species like Amolops mahabharatensis. Furthermore, the use of herbicides and insecticides on agricultural land can adversely affect river health.
Conservation action
Educating young generations and local communities about the importance of the species in the ecosystem is an effective way of ensuring species conservation. For example, Environment Protection and Study Center (ENPROSC) is implementing a project named ‘Promoting eco-clubs and field survey to initiate conservation of threatened Mahabharat Torrent Frog in central Nepal’ at Hattibang, Chitwan with support from Stiftung Artenschutz, Germany. The main objective of the project is to educate future generations in amphibian conservation.
But only those site specific projects seem insufficient to protect overall amphibian species among the whole country.
Regulation of unsustainable harvest practices is highly necessary to prevent local extinction of the species. For that, the harvesting season can be shifted after its breeding period so that the reproduction of the species can maintain the population and reduce the possibility of population declination. The direct runoff from the agricultural land should be diverted by identifying sensitive species habitats at the river system.
Direct introduction of the invasive species—either plant or aquatic animal species—should be avoided to curb competition for resources in the environment.
Focus on alternative food resources rather than those threatened species of the aquatic ecosystem.
The herpetofaunal species like Amolops mahabharatensis are the least prioritized species in terms of conservation, though they are as threatened as common leopards. Apparently, being a non-charismatic species is tantamount to facing extinction. The stakeholders’ biases against conservation activities for the species is also the reason behind a rapid decline of the species across its habitat.
Every year, March 20 is celebrated as the Frog Day worldwide but frog conservation activities seem insufficient. Very few organizations are considering herpetofauna conservation and execution of the prepared plans is often hindered due to the lack of funds. What’s more, anthropogenic influence is affecting the species’ habitats. To reduce these threats, the local community should be more aware about the status and importance of the species in the environment. Involving future generations in conservation activities and drawing the attention of stakeholders toward this issue are essential to conserve the habitats of herpetofaunal species, not on paper but on the ground.
