India Will Soon Get A National Frog, And You Can Vote For It Online!

After a national animal and a bird, it is likely that India will soon have a national amphibian ¨C a frog. The scientific community, especially one concerned with batrachology (the branch of zoology that studies amphibians) is now looking to pick a national frog through an online survey.

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The aim of this project is conservation and awareness.

However, India won¡¯t be the first to do so. Panama and California, US, have their own frogs. A few years ago the golden frog became Panama¡¯s national animal as well as its symbol for good luck.

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The California Red-Legged Frog became the official state amphibian for the western US state so that it could be protected. Now conservationists and scientists feel that India too should have a national frog.

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Gururaja KV, a batrachologist and a faculty at Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, said, though the idea was mooted about two years ago, it was gaining momentum now. The species must be widely seen and people must be able to recognise it. This way, we hope to sensitise people towards frogs, scientists believe.

Observations about frogs are not new. Even during Rig Veda (1500 Before Christian Era, BCA), there were observations about frogs and their behaviour. The famous Frog Hymn from Rig Veda (Chapter 7, Mandala 103), has 10 shlokas that deal with frogs and their behaviour. They even a describe frog calls and colours, of which one resembles present-day Indian bull frog.

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Having a national species may not dire ctly benefit scientists and conservationists, but will certainly enhance people¡¯s participation towards conservation. Experts are now chalking out strategies to launch an online poll and survey.

Gururaja has suggested four species. He said: ¡°I have proposed the Indian Bull Frog, Common Indian Toad, Indian Skittering Frog and Common Tree Frog,¡± he said.

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Once the campaign is launched, people can also propose a frog/toad names, but they have to provide a rationale for choosing it.

The voting and survey are expected to go online in a week¡¯s time.