Adults of Vazhachal settlement watching the documentary made about frogs

The Endangered purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis) is an evolutionary distinct, fossorial amphibian discovered by the scientific community in 2003. However, it was well known among indigenous communities much before its scientific discovery. Numerous generations (current and past) of these communities understand its behaviour and ecology, consume the frog and use it in traditional medicine and as amulets for children to overcome their fear of thunderstorms. There is an urgent need to conserve this threatened species and this project initiates its conservation across the Western Ghats through education campaigns with indigenous communities to reduce their use as amulets and traditional medicine. This project aims to build appreciation and improve the profile of the purple frog and amphibians as a whole, thereby improving local support for amphibian conservation in the Western Ghats. The objectives will be achieved through book-reading campaigns and documentary screening for children highlighting the importance of frogs in the ecosystem with specific reference to the purple frog. A documentary screening would also be conducted with the adults in the community which would initiate a discussion on conservation of purple frog and the stream ecosystems and ensure participation in the restoration of streams.

Most amphibian-related initiatives in India currently involve research and lack direct conservation. Though habitat loss and deterioration have been listed as threats for most amphibian species, very few initiatives actually mitigate this. The project also initiates this critical measure to improve the degraded habitats of the purple frog and improve its existing population.