Current Affairs - State - Discussion

The Galaxy Frog (Melanobatrachus indicus) is endemic to the evergreen and shola forests of Kerala in the Western Ghats. A recent study reports that seven of these rare frogs are now presumed dead, largely due to uncontrolled photo-tourism. Photographers trampled vegetation, displaced logs, and stressed the frogs, disrupting their breeding and survival. The Mathikettan Shola National Park region was specifically monitored for habitat loss between 2019 and 2025. This incident highlights the fragility of micro-habitats in Kerala’s biodiversity-rich Western Ghats and the urgent need for stricter conservation measures and responsible tourism practices.