Narratives of a Nepali Herpetologist...: Summary - SAVE MANASLU’S FROGS! Research Expedition

‘We’ve made it safe and sound this time,’ I expressed with joy to my friend on the last day of our expedition while we stopped by in a local hotel at Soti. From here, one could easily get a local bus around to return back to the city. Those of you who have little idea of what I’m talking about, please grab a coffee first and allow me to explain my position. We have recently completed our 21 days (March 1-21) ‘SAVE MANASLU’S FROGS! Research Expedition’ trip to Manaslu Conservation Area, Gorkha district, the northwestern part of Nepal. This expedition was a part of the amphibian research and conservation work I’ve been carrying out in Manaslu since early 2016, ‘Saving Mountain Frogs (Paha) Before It’s Too Late; Conservation Effort at Manaslu Conservation Area, Gorkha District, Nepal’ (http://www.rufford.org/projects/biraj_shrestha).

Taking-measurements-of-an-unidentified-tadpole-at-Yuwang-River

Stream frog (paha) habitat in Manaslu

I worked in the remote landscape of Manaslu in April-May 2016 for over a month doing the amphibian survey, celebrated 8^th Annual Save The Frogs Day with the local community and did school awareness programs. Then, I revisited Manaslu in September 2016 for a follow-up visit but as we reached Tatopani at 8:30 in the morning, a great tragedy struck in the form of the landslide. We escaped death by an inch but unluckily a group of Spanish trekkers who were just ahead of us met the terrible accident. Four people died at the spot and multiple injured individuals were flown to hospital via chopper. Well, Manaslu is one of the most dangerous remote montane amphibian habitats in Nepal. The only trekking trail runs through the deep gorge with a raging torrent of Budhi Gandaki River below fed by the melt of the world’s eighth highest peak, Mt Manaslu (8,163 m asl).

Budhi Gandaki River flowing swiftly

The disastrous earthquake of 2015 whose epicenter Barpak (south of Manaslu), has made the mountains unstable. After the landslide during our second field visit, I was so traumatized and spent days agonizing whether I should resume my incomplete tasks or not. But call it sheer stupidity or the love of frogs! We geared up, boosted morale, and set out to achieve the mission of frog conservation in the Himalaya. This recent expedition, which happened to be my third quest, was able through precious donations that came to SAVE THE FROGS! from frog lovers all around the world. Thank you once again for that!

A narrow eroded trail at Tatopani

Our journey began from Hetauda, we took a local bus to Gorkha and collected research permit from Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) office in the city. I met the newly appointed project coordinator of MCAP and briefed him about our project in Manaslu. On the next day, we took another four hours bus ride to Arughat, NE from Gorkha and from there another two and half hours bus ride until we reached Soti. This is the point where the motorable road ends, and then you're all on your muscle power. We stayed overnight at Soti, saw a bunch of tourists (trekkers) with their guides, mules grazing around and raging Budhi Gandaki River nearby, which was the ambiance of Manaslu calling, I know!

The mule train

Early morning the following day, we started trekking and let me tell you it’s a very strenuous every day 8-10 hours walk. We tramped through the narrow rugged trail at the banks of Budhi Gandaki to enter Jagat (entrance of MCA) from Soti (579 masl) to Liding, Lapu besi (775 masl), Machikhola (918 masl), and Tatopani (956 masl). I had the jitters while crossing the Tatopani trail where we witnessed the landslide in September 2016. Also, there are plenty of landslides or rockfall areas in the Manaslu circuit after the earthquake.

Landslide signpost installed by MCAP

After Tatopani, we crossed Dovan, Syaulifedi, Thadodhunga, Yarubagar, and reached Jagat (1,351 masl). Since we led our expedition at the start of spring, we hoped for pleasant weather in the mountains, but you never can tell. It rained cats and dogs from the day we entered Manaslu while the northern reaches snowed continuously until our final day of depart. The temperature was down throughout our expedition with frequent storms and strong winds. Crikey, it was only the pre-monsoon season?

Snowy mountain tops

That unpredictable weather hugely affected our amphibian survey. We walked a transect of 45.6 km from Jagat to Lokpa, Dyang, and Prok village doing Visual Encounter Surveys (VES), did stream surveys, and 10x10 sq. meters quadrat surveys. We didn’t see any frog/toad this time nevertheless, we found egg masses and tadpoles.

Local boys helping stream frog’s survey

Trying to shoot paha egg mass in clumps

We saw clumps of stream frog (paha) eggs clinging underneath of rock in small streams, while the toad eggs (Duttaphrynus sp.) were found in a different fashion. Toads laid their eggs in a long chain of the jelly coated membrane and found floating in stagnant water. The tadpoles are unidentified but easily observed at bottoms of mountain brooks. We did quadrat study in forests and agricultural lands but no success. Locals said the unfavorable weather and coldness could have restricted amphibian's sighting.

Paha egg mass in clumps

Developed paha tadpoles inside the jelly coated egg mass

Toad eggs in a long chain

We conducted other activities like Amphibian Conservation Dissemination Workshop, frog conservation posters distribution, the formation of Amphibian Conservation Group (ACG), and ethnoherpetological study along with the survey. We held the Amphibian Conservation Dissemination Workshop in Philim (1,431 masl) of Sirdibas VDC, Lokpa (1,910 masl) of Chumchet VDC, Dyang (1,914 masl) of Bihi VDC and Prok village (2,436 masl).

Amphibian Conservation Dissemination Workshop at Philim, Sirdibas

MCAP Office at Philim with Amphibian Conservation Group

Amphibian Conservation Dissemination Workshop at Lokpa, Chumchet

The workshops saw participation from all segments of the community members; youths, students, teachers, local and religious leaders, villagers, MCAP staff, Mother’s Group, and Conservation Area Management Committee (CAMC).

Local kid displaying paha conservation poster

Amphibian Conservation Group at Pemathang monastery, Lokpa

We sensed local people care about paha frogs in their region but saddened by the fact that amphibians around the world are facing unprecedented declines and Nepal could be no exception. People were motivated to check paha (stream frogs) collection in their villages and expressed determination to take collective actions against those found guilty. In coordination with the local community and MCAP, we supported the formation of Amphibian Conservation Groups in Sirdibas, Chumchet, Bihi, and Prok VDCs.

Tourists being a part of our workshop in Dyang, Bihi

Amphibian Conservation Dissemination Workshop at Prok VDC

Locals discussing about paha

On March 21, we returned to Gorkha city, where I gave ‘Amphibian Conservation Talk’ at Choice FM, 90.4 MH, highlighting our conservation effort at Manaslu.

URL: http://ujyaaloonline.com/news/72670/paha/