Context
A scientific study has warned that 7 of the world’s rarest “galaxy frog” species, found only in the Western Ghats of Kerala, are now presumed dead. The study links their disappearance to the rise in photo-tourism, where frequent human intrusion disturbed their fragile micro-habitats.
Galaxy Frog
- Galaxy frogs are tiny, rare frogs found only under rotten logs in the Western Ghats.
- They are named for their star-like speckled skin, resembling a galaxy.
- These frogs are highly habitat-specific and extremely sensitive to disturbance.
- Excessive photography, handling, use of camera flash, and movement of logs disrupted their feeding and breeding.
- As a result, several species have vanished from their known locations.
