18/6/2018
PUNE: Certain
amphibian species in the Sahyadris, in the Western Ghats, are under threat from
chtytrid infection caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd.)
fungus.
A five-year study - commissioned by the Royal Society of the
United Kingdom and conducted by researchers from the UK, the US and Indian
universities - has concluded that the Bd. fungus, known to eliminate entire
populations of amphibians in some parts of the world, has now been found in
endangered amphibian species in northern Western Ghats. The researchers
started collecting samples during the monsoon of 2013 and 2014. The team found
that 79% of the tested species tested positive.
“It is believed that trade in amphibians between countries
spread the pathogen. How it is transmitted in India is not very clear. In other
countries, it has been found to be more common near people, villages etc. So
unrecognised human vectors may be the transmission route,” said Chris Thorpe, a
researcher at the University of Plymouth, and the lead author of the
paper.
Shockingly, the state forest department is not even aware of
the threat. “We generally focus on the larger fauna in the Western Ghats
ecosystem and most of the research is on them,” said a senior official of the
state forest department.
All the tested species were from north Western Ghats. “The
lower temperatures above the Western Ghats escarpment provide an ideal
environment for the pathogen,” Thorpe said. He suggests setting up reserves in
warmer climates - like the south Konkan region - besides other human
interventions. “People should not move amphibians or anything that lives in
freshwater between places, even if those places are close by. If people are
moving between places with water, then they should disinfect footwear and
vehicle tires,” he said.
Local residents said the low lying areas receive adequate
water supply, however, those areas located uphill often face shortage of water.
Meanwhile, officials in PMC’s water supply department said that they were sure
of completing the work within the deadline. The officials said that the
contractors have already been appointed. The ground work would begin in the
next few days.
A senior official said, “Though two tanks are already
distributing water, there was no alternative in case both tanks faced any
technical problem. The third tank is coming up on a plot adjacent to the
existing two tanks,” he said.
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