Why in news?
A four-day wildlife survey ended across Kerala’s Munnar protected areas on 6 September. Researchers reported 1,938 encounters with the resplendent shrub frog inside Eravikulam National Park. The survey also recorded many amphibian and reptile species. An encounter total is not a census of unique frogs.
What the survey covered
The field exercise ran from 3 to 6 September across the Munnar Wildlife Division. Teams surveyed Eravikulam, Anamudi Shola, Pampadum Shola and Mathikettan Shola National Parks. Kurinjimala Sanctuary also formed part of the effort. These sites cover varied high-elevation habitats.
The reported results included fifty-four amphibian and fifty-two reptile species. Officials classified nineteen recorded species as endangered, ten as vulnerable and seven as near threatened. They also reported fifty-one Western Ghats-endemic amphibians. A full survey report would allow closer review of methods and lists.
Researchers counted 1,938 encounters involving the focal frog in Eravikulam. The same animal may sometimes be detected more than once across survey activity. Detection also changes with rain, temperature and calling behaviour. The figure therefore shows many observations, not a proven population size or growth rate.
Identifying the frog correctly
The accepted scientific name is Raorchestes resplendens. It belongs to the frog family Rhacophoridae. Scientists described the species formally in 2010 from Anamudi summit. “Resplendent bush frog” and “resplendent shrub frog” are both used as common names.
The species has unusually short limbs and a strong crawling habit. It lives mainly on the ground, unlike many vegetation-dwelling relatives. Adults are active chiefly at night. Their bright colour and prominent body glands also aid careful field identification.
Its eggs develop directly into small froglets without a free-swimming tadpole stage. This life cycle connects reproduction closely with moist land habitat. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), calls and body features can support identification. Each line of evidence has its own limits.
The current International Union for Conservation of Nature category is Endangered. An earlier assessment listed it as Critically Endangered. The category changed in the 2023 Red List update after improved knowledge. A lower category does not mean that habitat protection is no longer necessary.
Where does it live?
The known range lies in the Munnar–Valparai montane grasslands of the Anamalai massif. It spans south-western Tamil Nadu and adjoining south-eastern Kerala. Authoritative records place it between about 1,896 and 2,695 metres. It is therefore not confined to one summit or one park.
Eravikulam National Park lies in Kerala’s Idukki district within the southern Western Ghats. Its high plateau combines rolling grasslands, marshy patches and shola forest in valleys. Anamudi, southern India’s highest peak, rises within this landscape. Elevation creates cool, wet and specialised habitats.
A 2020 study expanded the known localities beyond early Eravikulam records. Researchers documented sites across the Anamalai landscape in both states. Many observations came from grass clumps beside marshy or swampy ground. Calling activity was recorded mainly during wet months.
Why shola–grassland mosaics matter
Sholas are compact evergreen forests within high-elevation grasslands. Forest, grass and wetland patches create different temperatures and moisture conditions. Frogs may use each part differently for feeding, shelter and reproduction. Damage to one patch can affect the wider habitat network.
Amphibians have permeable skin and depend closely upon water and humidity. That sensitivity can make them useful indicators of environmental change. It also exposes them to drought, pollution and altered rainfall. A survey result must be interpreted alongside habitat and weather measurements.
Munnar’s native habitats extend beyond protected-area boundaries. Tea, cardamom, roads and settlements separate many remaining fragments. Wildlife Trust of India identifies road deaths, waste, invasive plants and infrastructure as pressures. Cooperation with estates and local communities is therefore necessary.
Restoration and evidence
Park officials linked the new observations with removal of invasive plants and grassland restoration. Restoring native vegetation can improve moisture, shelter and breeding space. However, one survey cannot prove that restoration caused the encounter total. Before-and-after monitoring with comparison sites would provide stronger evidence.
Long-term surveys should use repeatable routes, timing and effort. Researchers must record weather, calls and exact habitat conditions. Mark-recapture or other structured methods can estimate abundance more directly. Published protocols would let future teams compare change rather than only compile sightings.
Conservation should protect breeding wetlands and connections between suitable patches. It should also monitor amphibian disease, including chytrid fungus. Visitor movement needs care around sensitive marshes and grasslands. Location data for rare breeding sites should not be publicised without safeguards.
Conclusion
The Munnar survey confirms Eravikulam as an important habitat for an Endangered Western Ghats frog. Its 1,938 encounters are encouraging observations, not a complete population count. Expanded range knowledge has improved understanding without removing threats. Repeated surveys and measured restoration outcomes are now essential.