Finding frogs in Karnataka's Bisle Ghat

In 2012, a group of citizens started recording the elusive tailless amphibians that thrived in a leafy village. One of its early participants, ecologist H S Sudhira, tracks where the citizen science initiative stands today and the pressures it confronts.

It was August 2012, right in the middle of the monsoons. We were heading to Bisle, passing through Sakleshpura in Karnataka’s Hassan district. As we approached Bisle, we were welcomed by tall trees on both sides. The rain fell in thick sheets. It was as if someone was pouring water over us. 

The Bisle region is at the convergence of three districts: Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, and Kodagu. The village is nestled near the eastern boundary of the Bisle State Forest (reserve forest). It is situated at an altitude of about 840 mtr (above mean sea level) while the famous Bisle Ghat viewpoint is around 1,090 mtr (above mean
sea level). 

From the viewpoint, one can view majestic peaks such as Kumara Parvatha or Pushpagiri (1,712 mtr), and Patta Betta (1,112 mtr) on a clear day. Given its geographical location, it has an undulating terrain. The western slopes lead to the valley formed by river Kumaradhara, which can also be seen from the viewpoint. 

However, we were headed to Bisle to explore something very specific, frogs and toads! We knew very little about these tiny creatures, who seem to be very active only during the monsoons. Back then, we didn’t know what species could be encountered there, and that was surely enough motivation to explore. 

Bisle was then a sleepy village surrounded by lush green forests, recounts K V Gururaja, a professor of ecology at Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bengaluru. At Bisle, the stage was set for holding the first amphibian workshop. It has now come to be known as the annual Bisle Frog Watch programme. The venue was Samudaya Bhavana, which was managed by the local Village Forest Committee (VFC).

Over the next three days, about 15 participants and a few facilitators attempted to explore the amphibians in the neighbourhood of Bisle village. About 11 species of frogs were encountered in 2012. The highlight was that the participants were amateurs — citizens with an interest in amphibians. Prof Gururaja, who has been associated with the programme since its inception in 2012, recounts that at least three of the participants in these workshops have gone ahead to pursue a PhD related to amphibians. 

Private forest

The story behind the site where the programme is held is particularly interesting. It is held in a private forest called Ashokavana, which belongs to G N Ashokavardhana. 

He ran a successful enterprise, Athree Books, in Mangaluru until he voluntarily shut it when he turned 60. He had always been inspired by nature and wildlife conservation. Consequently, he has taken part in many conservation initiatives in the region, trekked and biked across the country, and later published books about his experiences. In most of his adventures, he has also been supported by his wife, Devaki. 

Around 2007, when a local farmer was selling off his land, there was speculation that a developer had shown interest to turn the space into a resort. When Ashokavardhana heard about it,
he teamed up with his friend, Dr Krishna Mohan Prabhu, and bought the 15-acre land. Over the years, the duo transformed it into a private forest. 

In 2012, when some enthusiasts from Mangaluru were planning to organise an amphibian workshop, Ashokavana became the natural host. This also led to the formation of the Bisle Kappe Watch team in Mangaluru initiated by Deepika Prasad and Vivek Malleshappa. Gubbi Labs, a research collective co-founded by me, joined hands with them and we have been organising this every year. The annual frog watch at Bisle and Ashokavana is a unique citizen science programme that has paved the way for documenting frogs in the region. 

Ashokavana hosts researchers at no cost. But Ashokavardhana insists they follow the rules of the land. Though the annual frog watch events continued successfully, Ashokavardhana realised that the place had no facility for researchers to stay overnight. They could not extend their field work beyond a day. Around 2019, he came up with a less invasive way to host them — container homes. After delays caused by the pandemic, he finally inaugurated it in January 2021. He named it Kappe Goodu.   

Dr Prabhu passed away in January 2022. Despite this setback, Ashokavardhana steered Ashokavana. 

Ashokavana has not experienced any other interventions. The entire parcel of 15 acres now breathes like any other forest. Over the last few years, the team at Gubbi Labs has been documenting biodiversity and looking closely at all possible taxa. 

A couple of camera traps set up in the forest have revealed that the place has become an extended space for a few ungulates, porcupines and such. It is hard to miss the call of a Malabar Whistling Thrush on any visit to Ashokavana. 

The private forest is supporting conservation efforts by ensuring limited development in the fringes of the Bisle State Forest, where it is located, and also in undertaking research on less known taxa in this region. Those willing to emulate this should explore buying revenue lands adjacent to protected areas. This way, it can eventually become an extended home for the biodiversity it harbours. 

Making discoveries

Our annual Frog Watch has empowered participants to observe frogs in their neighbourhoods. In the last decade, at least two new species have been discovered by citizen scientists. 

One of them was discovered on a laterite outcrop in the outskirts of Manipal. It is called Microhyla laterite or laterite narrow-mouthed frog. This frog was earlier thought to be the more commonly found ornate narrow-mouthed frog, but some of the frog enthusiasts found some variations in their patterns and calls. On collecting the samples and analysing them, they were found to be a different species. 

Another participant, Vineet Kumar, ended up pursuing doctoral research on the acoustics of frogs. His research shed light on the diversity of the calls that each species of frog makes. After the discovery of Microhyla laterite, Kumar and his colleagues found another narrow-mouthed frog. After collecting and analysing them, they found this to be another new species, which they named Microhyla kodial, after Kodial (a locality in Mangaluru) where it was found. 

The Frog Watch programme is being replicated by other groups in their respective towns and regions. A group from Mysuru and Melkote has been having these meets regularly. Currently, the programmes are led by many trained resource persons and are also organised independently.  

During these meets, the Samudaya Bhavana doubled up as our classroom during the day and then our camp to sleep at night. With basic facilities, it seemed manageable then. For food, we relied on Deve Gowda and family who ran a small restaurant, which was called Hotel Thulasi.

The Bisle Frog Watch has now evolved into a one-of-its kind citizen science initiative. Prof Gururaja notes that even the format has evolved from facilitator-led sessions to participatory activity-cum-game-based sessions including the ones developed by ecologists K S Seshadri and Vidisha Kulkarni. The annual frog watch has helped us document over 40 species of frogs in the region. Beyond taxonomy, Prof Gururaja notes that participants are also now engaged in discussions on their behaviour, ecology and conservation aspects. 

Development pressure

Over the past couple of years, the place has been witnessing some significant changes in its landscape. Bisle Ghat Road is a key link between Kukke Subramanya and Sakleshpura. It  has emerged as an alternative route whenever there is a blockage on Shiradi Ghat.  

In the post-Covid era, locals in Bisle have been venturing into the restaurant business. With new eateries coming up, the old ones are being renovated too. Hotel Thulasi has been replaced by two new restaurants — Hotel Suryodaya and Nikshep Café. At the Bisle Ghat viewpoint, the Forest Department has set up a ticketing counter.

Littering is a huge problem along the stretch. There have been efforts at times by the local gram panchayat to collect the litter. But the collected litter is left near an abandoned stone quarry, where one can find the endemic Indirana species of frog. At times, one finds the garbage dumped inside the forest, away from the road. 

Seshadri notes, “This problem is not restricted to Bisle. Most hill stations and viewpoints have been subject to it. The garbage ends up degrading habitats, creating what are called suboptimal habitats that slowly but surely affect the ecosystem. For instance, there is a rock surface in the abandoned quarry where we could see tadpoles, but over the last few years, we have been seeing a mound of burnt plastic. The chemicals leaching into the water will likely harm the frogs and may lead to direct mortality or developmental defects”.

Ashokavardhana suggests that the Forest Department regulate vehicular movement and other activities, which are being carried out inside the protected area. 

What was once a very active Village Forest Committee (VFC) is no longer as active. The Samudaya Bhavana, which hosted us during our amphibian workshops, is now dilapidated. Its broken windows and cracked roofs make it unliveable. 

Consequently, we were forced to shift our venue to one of the other homestays in the area. 

Having witnessed the changes over the years, Prof Gururaja says, “What was once a sleepy village has now transformed into a place running amok with tourists. Sometimes, we can’t believe this is the same place where we started our frog watch!” 

The only silver lining here is that the local biodiversity management committees have declared these as biodiversity heritage sites. Yet, it is indeed high time that the concerned authorities consider upgrading the protection status of these forests, at least as a conservation reserve. 

The transformation at Bisle is possibly similar to most such places along the Western Ghats. What remains to be seen is how a combination of local action coupled with adequate support from the Karnataka Forest Department, can minimise the negative impact and help navigate these challenging times. 

Role of frogs

Frogs play a very critical role in maintaining the balance within ecosystems. They act as a crucial link in the food chain, transferring energy from the insect world to higher trophic levels. Due to their insect-rich diet, frogs also serve as natural pest controllers.