A unique and visually striking amphibian known as the 'galaxy frog' has seemingly disappeared from its only known habitat in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India, sparking serious concern among wildlife photographers and conservationists.
The Search for a Vanishing Star
For years, the elusive amphibian, scientifically named Nasikabatrachus bhupathi, has been a prized subject for nature photographers. Its dark, glossy skin is speckled with brilliant, light-blue spots, resembling a starry night sky – hence its popular nickname. However, multiple dedicated expeditions to its home in the Ponmudi hills throughout 2025 have failed to locate a single specimen.
This follows an earlier, troubling pattern. The frog was last officially documented by researchers in 2017. While a few individuals were spotted and photographed by enthusiasts in the following years, no sightings have been confirmed since 2023. The current absence suggests a rapid and severe decline.
Habitat Destruction: The Prime Suspect
Experts point to significant and ongoing habitat degradation as the most likely cause of the galaxy frog's disappearance. The species has an incredibly restricted range, being found only in a small, high-altitude stretch of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.
Illegal quarrying and land clearing for plantations are cited as the primary destructive forces. These activities disrupt the fragile shola grassland ecosystems where the frog lives. Furthermore, the species has a highly specialised lifecycle, depending on clear, perennial streams for breeding. Sediment runoff from construction and land disturbance can smother these vital water bodies, making them uninhabitable.
"When the habitat goes, these specialised creatures have nowhere else to go," explained one local researcher, highlighting the frog's vulnerability. The situation underscores a broader crisis for amphibians worldwide, which are among the most threatened animal groups.
A Broader Warning and a Call to Action
The disappearance of the galaxy frog acts as a stark environmental indicator. Its plight signals the deteriorating health of its entire ecosystem, which supports countless other endemic species. Wildlife photographers, often the first to notice such changes, have become crucial citizen scientists in raising the alarm.
Their visual documentation provides compelling evidence of both the beauty of what stands to be lost and the impacts of human activity. Conservation groups are now urging for:
- Immediate habitat protection and enforcement against illegal quarrying in the Ponmudi region.
- A formal, scientific status assessment to determine if the galaxy frog should be classified as Critically Endangered or possibly Extinct in the Wild.
- Increased surveys to locate any remaining, potentially isolated populations.
The fate of the galaxy frog remains uncertain. While hope persists that a remnant population may survive in an undisturbed pocket, its current absence serves as a powerful reminder. The loss of a single, unique species is an irreversible diminishment of our planet's natural heritage, often driven by actions that are localised but have global consequences.
