One of the world’s most dazzling amphibians is under threat from unregulated photographic tourism, scientists have warned, after an entire herd disappeared from its rainforest habitat.
Famous for its star-speckled appearance, the galaxy frog lives only in the evergreen forests of India’s Western Ghats.
Endangered and only the size of a fingertip, these rare creatures hide in damp crevices under rocks, leaf litter and decaying logs in this biodiversity hotspot.
But in a study published Wednesday in Herpetology Notes, scientists warn that they are being lost.
The study found that unregulated photography trips are the main culprit, and can cause disruption and behavioral changes that impede the frogs’ feeding and breeding success.
Rajkumar K.P., a researcher at the Zoological Society of London who led the study, discovered a group of seven galaxy frogs nestled under a log in the Western Ghats in early 2020, according to the report.
However, their return after a hiatus due to coronavirus restrictions revealed that the group had since disappeared, raising serious concerns about the survival of the species.
Researchers began monitoring this area of the rainforest in 2019 and are continuing efforts to track the elusive frog, which is listed as an “endangered species” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the study said.
By March 2020, the team had found a group of seven animals hiding under rotting logs and fallen leaves.
But over the next two summers, researchers found that groups of photographers descended on the site in search of the perfect shot, trampling the area and leaving the logs dislocated.
“The photographers were familiar with the microhabitat of this species from publications and local trackers and overturned many logs while searching for this species,” the report said.
For this study, trackers reported that groups of up to six photographers descended on the site, each eager to snap pictures of every galaxy frog they spotted, often moving the small creatures onto moss or logs to create a more picturesque backdrop.
The frogs endured repeated handling as the photographer’s powerful camera flash illuminated the scene for about four hours per session.
Bare hand contact, lack of hydration and lack of biosecurity protocols left the frogs vulnerable to stress, heat and potential disease, the report said.
One tracker told the report that two small frogs died while photographing the marathon, but researchers were unable to confirm this.
The report called for establishing ethical standards for nature and conservation photography to better protect wildlife across India.
“This sad incident is a stark warning of the consequences of unregulated photography,” Rajkumar said.
“These beautiful and rare frogs are unlike any other in our little corner of the universe, but without careful and responsible management, they are at risk of disappearing from the face of the earth forever.”
He added: “If done correctly, photography can be a great asset to help conservationists improve their understanding of areas such as animal distribution and behavior, and the resulting images can also help teach others about these amazing species.”
“However, irresponsible photography can turn this property into a hazard.”
