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.
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