Calling for conservation, WWF launches unique exhibition on frogs

Frogs, a primary indicator of climate change and one of the most affected species yet not much focused on, will get attention with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-India on Monday launching "Frogfest", a one of its kind exhibition in the world showcasing artefacts and collections of amphibians to call for their conservation.

Showcasing the role of art in conservation, the Frogfest includes an exhibition of a personal collection of frog artefacts from over 40 countries. The fest will continue till April at WWF-India secretariat here.

According to reports, over 7,000 species of amphibians -- frogs, toads, and salamanders, have been documented globally so far and more are being discovered.

"With any kind of unprecedented change in temperature or moisture, frogs tend to disappear. Frogs, toads and salamanders are very sensitive to toxins, and their going missing indicates huge impact on bio-diversity," Seema Bhatt, environment consultant and collector, told IANS.

Hoping that the fest builds awareness on the need for conservation of these species, Bhatt pointed out the link between nature and culture and the value of frogs and toads amid them.

"Frog croaking is indicator of rains, now there are no rains and we know that frogs are not croaking anywhere," she said, in a grim reminder of what we have lost so far due to climate change.

According to WWF, due to their sensitivity to air and water quality, frogs are important indicators of the health of their environment.

"When amphibians show declines in the wild, it serves as a warning to other species including humans...Amphibians are one of the most threatened group of animals," WWF-India said.

The fest exhibition has been curated by artists Aditya Arya and Mamata Pandya. The display of the artefacts is supported by a series of panels that highlight the conservation significance of frogs in nature and offers a peep into the fascinating world of frogs in India and the important initiatives to conserve them. The event has been enhanced with expert inputs from India's foremost amphibian scientists, Sathyabhama Das Biju and K.V. Gururaja.

--IANS

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