SHENDURNEY RICH IN DIVERSITY OF FROGS

 SHENDURNEY RICH IN DIVERSITY OF FROGS

Forty-five frog species, including one newly discovered, had been sighted in the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in Kollam district during a survey that began in 2008 and ended last week. Four of the species had been found for the first time in the santury. The Forest Department and Wildlife conservationsts are evidently happy at the sightings.

 Anil Zacharia veterinary surgeon and frog expert, who led the survey,said the newly discovered species belonged to the genus polypedates. He said the sanctury appeared to be the foremost in richness and endemism frog species. the frogs sighted belonging to eight families. The survey had been onducted along the sampling sites at Kattilapara, Rosemala and Kallar and their surrounding areas. Pandimotta, and Rockwood Estate. Robin Abraham,ecologist and member of the survey team,said that on the Pandimotta site,22 species had been sighted. Eighteen had been sighted Eightees had been sighted on the Rosemala and the Kallar sites, 17 on the surrounding area site, and 16 each on the Kattilapara and the Rosemala sites.

  Thirty-eight of the species are strictly endemic to the Western Ghats and 15 regionaly endemic to the Agasthyamal biosphere area. Dr Zacharia said the frog communities of the sanctuary were exceptionally diverse and the sanctuary and its surrounding areas could qualify to be among the richest protected areas for amphibians in India.

  Mr. Abraham said that in this backdrop, the sanctuary merited the highest form of protection to safeguard its incredible fauna and flora diversity. Tourism initiatives construction of roads,a nd rearing of livestock in private holdings within the sanctuary should be controlled.

                                         Prof. John Kurakar