When the Western Ghats Galaxy Frog Caught Leonardo DiCaprio’s Attention

Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, an avid wildlife lover, recently shared a photo of a frog on his Facebook and Instagram posts.

The photograph was of a galactic frog, a species of amphibian endemic to the eastern part of the Western Ghats. The photo was taken by Sandeep Das, a researcher and wildlife photographer from Thrissur.

“For me it was double pleasure. I was already excited when a scientific journal published an article by a group of researchers from around the world, including myself, on “Continuing Decline of Global Amphibians in the Face of Emerging Threats.” Nature The 4th of October. It was incredible that DiCaprio shared an excerpt from this report along with my photo of a galactic frog,” says Mr. Das.

Mr Das, who has been conducting post-doctoral research into the ecology of amphibian diseases, says he began photographing wildlife as a tool to aid his research. “I work mainly in the field of taxonomy, ecology and biology. Recording research subjects is important. In many cases, a photograph conveys information to the average person better than a research report.”

“Galaxy Frog (Melanobatrachus indica), perhaps herself one of the most beautiful frogs in the world. Perhaps that’s why it caught the actor’s attention so easily. I took this photo in Thekkady,” says Mr. Das.

The Titanic star had earlier shared the news of a freshwater fossil fish found in a well in Alappuzha.

The galactic frog has been identified as a flagship species for conservation in the Mathikettan Shola National Park, which is home to rare flora and fauna. According to Mr. Das, who conducted research on amphibians in Eravikulam Park at the Kerala Forest Research Institute, it is rare for any amphibian species to become the focal species for conservation in a national park.

The galaxy frog, although small in size, is known by its name due to its galactic appearance and blue and yellow color. One of the rarest frogs, the galactic frog’s closest relatives live in East Africa.

Legal and illegal agricultural expansion, timber and plant harvesting, infrastructure development and climate change are common threats to amphibians worldwide.