Environmental Conservation: Galaxy Frogs and Logging in North Carolina

A group of endangered galaxy frogs, Melanobatrachus indicus, are missing and presumed dead following reports that photographers destroyed their microhabitats in Kerala, India. The frogs, each the size of a fingertip, are the only species in their family and reside under logs in the Western Ghats rainforest.

Rajkumar K P, a Zoological Society of London fellow and researcher, discovered the frogs in early 2020 but found them missing during a return visit after the Covid pandemic. He attributed the destruction of their habitats to photographers who turned over logs in search of the frogs, breaking and trampling vegetation in the process.

According to Rajkumar, two frogs died after being handled too long without gloves, which are necessary since the frogs breathe through their skin. Despite efforts by forest department officers to prevent such groups from entering, the photographers reportedly had permission from higher officials.

Dr. Benjamin Tapley, ZSL's curator of reptiles and amphibians, expressed concern over the potential loss of the galaxy frogs, describing them as an irreplaceable branch on the tree of life. He hopes to promote more ethical behavior to ensure species like the galaxy frog can survive for generations.

Meanwhile, the narrative also touches on the successful halt of unlawful logging in North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest, emphasizing the necessity of habitat protection amidst such environmental challenges.