First Reporting of Herpetological Information from Banke National Park, Nepal

A garden lizard basking above the litters

To tell the truth, I took an avid interest in amphibians and reptiles after my undergrad studies and basically as a stay-at-home guy. Thanks to the few TV stations that featured programs on herps !! Dr. Brady Barr's herping expeditions of reckless catch poking his head inside burrows were something that had left an indelible impression on me. I began exploring these historically tough species through whatever information I came across at that time. TV shows, Books, Internet, Journals, Magazines, conversation with relevant people and so forth. But call it irony or else?, I used to get jitters as my greatest fear in childhood was none other than spooky reptiles. Geckos, Snakes, Garden Lizards would scare the life out of me! Anyway, I overcame the ignorance and fear of my growing interest in studying herps year after year. 

My first official herping started out when I was pursuing Master's degree in Environmental Science. In 2011, some of our batch-mates including me had the opportunity to participate in 'Tiger & Prey Base Occupancy Survey at Banke National Park conducted by WWF Nepal. It was only a year after since establishment of Banke National Park in May 2010. I was very enthusiastic about the fieldwork as this was my first ever travel in the woods researching flora and fauna. I conceived the idea of preparing a checklist of herps from the information (visual observation and photographs) we collected. There were three to four groups, each including five individuals. After 20 days of survey, the first herpetological checklist of Banke National park was established. 

Nine species; amphibians (2 species) and reptiles (7 species) were recorded from Banke National Park. Observations were carried out through opportunistic sampling and the finds captured in cameras; SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-T700 of focal length 6.18-24.7 mm and CANON POWERSHOT SX20 IS.

SN             SPECIES		FAMILY	No. OF INDIVIDUAL
1                Duttaphrynus melanostictus 2                Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis 3                Calotes versicolor versicolor 4                Laudakia tuberculata 5                Sitana sivalensis 6               Hemidactylus frenatus 7               Lygosoma albopunctatum 8               Dendrelaphis tristis 9               Naja naja		Bufonidae Ranidae Agamidae Agamidae Agamidae Gekkonidae Scincidae Colubridae Elapidae	1            1            1            2            1            1            1            1            1
Total Individuals			10

Species Accounts:

1. Duttphrynus melanostictus Schneider, 1799

Black-spined Toad

A black-spined toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) was photographed by Mr. Ankit Joshi (participant of the survey) on the way to Haukhola, the northern fringes of Banke National Park. The toad was about to be swallowed by a spectacled cobra (Naja naja) when the crew unknowingly was moving ahead in the trail. Luckily, no injury sustained but the toad succumbed to the venom of cobra finally. Secretions (slight reddish) can be seen at the dorsal part of the toad.

2. Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Schneider, 1799)

Skittering frog

These frogs are the most abundant throughout its distribution in Nepal. Mostly inhabiting ponds, streams, large rivers, rice fields, and warm tropical/subtropical zones.

3. Calotes versicolor versicolor (Daudin, 1802)

Common garden lizard

This lizard is the most ubiquitous among several others in Nepal and has a wider world distribution; India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, and Indonesia (Shah & Tiwari 2004). It could be seen inhabiting a variety of terrestrial habitat. The altitude range in Nepal is <100-3200m.

4. Laudakia tuberculata (Hardwicke & Gray, 1827)

Kashmir Rock Agama

I've seen many of the rock lizards in the mountains and uplands of the Himalayan region but to my surprise, the first observation I did with this species was around the foothills of Chure. I didn't record the altitude then which now could delineate its lower range of distribution. One of the robust agamas could be seen basking on open rocky habitats, cultivation, settlements, etc.

5. Sitana sivalensis Schleich, Kastle & Shah, 1998

Siwalik sitana

The endemic lizard to Nepal, Sitana sivalensis is unique in morphology and anyone seeing it for the first would surely fall in love...lol. It was observed beneath litters at Sal (Shorea robusta) forest. The black diagonal longitudinal markings are signature in the Sitana genus.

6. Hemidactylus frenatus (Schlegel in: Dumeril & Bibron 1836)

Asian house gecko

Called 'Mausuli' in Nepali, these house geckos are prevalent in the lowlands of Nepal and have wider global distribution. They are carnivorous and can be heard 'tick tick tick tick" sound around in & out of the house.

7. Lygosoma albopunctatum (Gray, 1846) 

Brown dwarf skink

These are called 'Bhangemungro' in Nepali and has a glossy body like a snake with limbs resembling a lizard. Actually, it's a skink! It is common in Nepal's lowlands inhabiting the Terai Sal forest with grasslands. Active during the day and some literature refer to it being crepuscular. If you hear someone screaming 'sarpa ko mama' in villages then be sure it'd be a skink. I can't be sure of the kinship with the snakes though! 

8. Dendrelaphis tristis (Daudin, 1803)

Common bronze back tree snake

An arboreal snake, Bronzeback was spotted and photographed by one of our crews at Banke National Park. It is common throughout forests of the lowlands and the Chure hills of Nepal. Literature suggests it as a highly aggressive snake and bites with a quick jab.

9. Naja naja (Linnaues, 1758)

Spectacled cobra

It was observed on the same spot as Black-spined toad. In fact, the toad was being swallowed by this cobra but the poor creature had to free its lunch as one of our crew unknowingly disturbed it in the litters. Trying to defend, the cobra gave several hissing on the air which scared the heck out of my friend. What an incident for both! 

6th Annual Save The Frogs Day 2014

In 2014, I was involved with Friends of Nature (FON) Nepal as a Project Officer in Chitwan. Since 6th Annual Save The Frogs Day came closer, I talked to Mr. Raju Acharya, Executive Director at FON about observing the day. He was indeed happy to facilitate such a unique conservation message relay event. Having more than two-decades-long experience in conservation, Raju dai advised me to organize a dissemination workshop inviting local and national media person, conservationists and others. As he believed, media coverage to be the best way to inform the un-informed public about amphibians and their plight. 

On April 27, Friends of Nature (FON) Nepal observed ‘Save The Frogs Day 2014’ by holding a dissemination workshop at Ratna Nagar, Chitwan. It is also the first celebration by FON Nepal about the special amphibians’ day. A press meet was organized on the occasion along with the participation of local conservationists. I made a keynote presentation about amphibians, their diversity, status, importance, threats, recommendations and so forth in the context of Nepal. To make the session more informative, we provided handouts (press note & fact sheet) to all the participants.

www.synergyfm.com.np/index.php?pageName=news-detail&id=14312#index.php?pageName=news-detail&id=14312

5th Annual Save The Frogs Day 2013

Croak! Croak!! Croak! Croak!! I had a dream engulfed by an army of frogs just before the night we observed the event ‘Save The Frogs Day’. In a span of 365 days in a year, I’m glad to find there’s a day specially dedicated to advocating for ‘FROGS’! Why frogs? You may ask out. In return, I am confident to elucidate some points that highlight the importance of frogs to the ecosystem as well as to humans. Anyway, this year ‘Save The Frogs Day’ fell on April 27 but on the premises of EGH, however globally, big day for amphibians was marked on April 29, Monday.

Realizing the importance of frogs and amphibians, we the consortium of SAVE THE FROGS!, Environmental Graduates in Himalaya (EGH), Resources Himalaya Foundation (RHF), Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN), Nepal Prakriti Pathshala (NPP), CARON had organized an all day-long event. The event was categorized into two sessions; Celebration with School Kids (Session I) and ‘Save The Frogs Symposium’ (Session II) as participants from all walks of life had a whale of a time. Children show curiosity about everything and it is important that they should know about what’s happening with their environment and frogs will always have the wider implications from unendurable levels of pollution. Frogs are the bio-indicators of any environment as their permeable skin will soak up anything in water bodies, including contaminants. Frogs are gradually disappearing and many threatened with extinction over the globe. School kids were intrigued to hear shocking facts on frogs especially when they found out the plight of such important species addressed in a short film – Frog, Chemical, Water, You showed during the very day. Altogether 34 students from six different schools attended the first session and kids were enthralled to take part in varied sorts of activities viz., Art Contest, Frog Race, Face Painting & Photo Exhibition.

The latter part of the schedule kicked off around 2:30 PM as the auditorium of Dr. Pralad Yonzon Memorial Conservation Chautari, Nayabato, Sanepa Ringroad, Lalitpur, Nepal was thronged with students/experts/frog enthusiasts. We started the symposium by playing short videos on frogs as attendees took heed of the messages conspicuous therewith. Dr. Tej Kumar Shrestha, D.Sc, F.L.S (London), naturalist/zoologist – the veteran wildlife expert was the guest of honor and he discoursed upon the topic ‘AMPHIBIANS OF NEPAL: Status and Threats’. Shortly afterward Mr. Kanak Mani Dixit – founder of the news magazine ‘Himal Southasian/Himal Khabarpatrika’ as well as an author of ‘The Adventures of a Nepali Frog’ held the floor for few minutes. As the clock struck 3:30, it had been the time for our four presenters and everybody left no stones unturned as to disseminate information on amphibians/frogs amid a hundred attendees. Prakash C Aryal (CARON), Biraj Shrestha (EGH Coordinator), Kamal Raj Gosai (Khwopa College) and Alok Pradhan (Trinity College) advocated on frogs highlighting their importance in the ecosystem, their roles in the food chain, their significance to human beings and threats imposed by human beings on a more serious note. After that Mr. Prasanna Yonzon, CEO – Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN) recollected stories full of gentle humor about his college days but all associated with frogs. In the meanwhile, he made a commitment to provide some space for frogs’ researches in the days ahead from WCN. The descriptive hours of symposium came to an end with closing remarks from Dr. Pitamber Sharma – The Chairperson, Resources Himalaya Foundation (RHF) expressing gratitude to the event organizers, speakers and all. 

In my childhood days, rumbling croaks echoed from the bushes and armies of frog hop around the garden while it rained. The scenario has totally reversed today as I’m afraid these tiny, slimy hoppers will remain merely in books and virtual reality if we don't act to protect them.