Amphibian Special Interest Group (ASIG)
Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force-South Asia (DAPTF-SA)

Amphibian network was initiated by the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group India CBSG India in 1995 and later it has evolved into a group, which covers much of South Asia. The main objective of the network initially was to establish a database of all amphibian researchers in India and the neighbouring South Asian countries. Even some professional amphibian biologists seemed to be unaware of the number of people conducting useful and relevant studies on amphibians.  There were many researchers working on amphibians in various lesser-known universities and colleges not being included. When this networking initiative was undertaken there were 100 names in the list by the end of the first year. Initial questionnaires also revealed that the researchers were interested in sharing information with one another and in having a network.   Now there are 202+ members under this network.

Since the initial activity of the Amphibian Network was successful, John Baker, then International Coordinator of the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (DAPTF) requested Sanjay Molur and CBSG ASIG to affiliate with DAPTF in South Asia and he requested Sanjay to join with Dr. Sushil Dutta of Utkal University as the Co-chair of DAPTF-SA.

DAPTF-SA is one of the active regional groups of DAPTF. The group was established in 1993. The group has assumed much responsibility and has spearheaded various activities in the region, some of the most important ones being:

• Identification and networking of amphibian field biologists in South Asia.

• Directory of amphibian field researchers in South Asia

• Conservation Assessment of all Indian amphibians according to the 1994 IUCN categories of threat

• Publication of newsletters and amphibian special issue journals

• Conduct of a hands-on training in amphibian field methodologies, taxonomy and identification and assisting with the organisation of a conservation assessment workshop in Sri Lanka

• Printed a educational packet on amphibians named “Helping Herps Amphibians: Global Warning!“ and "Amphibian Aark" Which contains general information about amphibian, masks, stickers, placard, posters, Rakhi and colouring book and it was circulated to zoos and NGO’s during wildlife week and Animal Welfare fortnightly.

Objectives

To encourage and promote the study of amphibians of South Asia, by organizing and running a network of amphibian specialists, and to provide them useful services.

To maintain a check list and data base -- as complete and correct as possible -- of amphibians of South Asia providing local, national and regional information to be shared with important national and international agencies and organisations;

To catalyse, organize, conduct and follow-up conservation assessment and other workshops and training exercises for amphibian specialists of South Asia and public education projects as appropriate, nationally or regionally

Click on these links below to view the reports of the Amphibian CAMPs

• To view an article (information taken from Amphibian CAMP) on South Asian amphibians: taxonomy, diversity and conservation status

• Report of CAMP workshop for Sri Lankan amphibians published in 2000, edited by A. de Silva, S. Molur and S. Walker.

• Report of BCCP CAMP on amphibians of India, published in 1998, edited by S. Molur and S. Walker.

Click on these links below to view the reports of some of these training workshops

• Amphibian Conservation Educators Skills Training at Central Zoo, Nepal, 2008

• Amphibian Biodiversity Conservation ABC- South Asia 2007

• Hands-on training workshop for keeping and breeding amphibians in captivity in September 2000 at Arignar Anna Zoological Park

• Hands-on training workshop in field techniques, identification and taxonomy for amphibian field biologists at Kempholey Forest in Karnataka in December 1998

To follow up such workshops with recommendations to local, state, national and regional wildlife authorities for protection for threatened species of amphibians and promotion of further studies of Data Deficient species  (ongoing but much needs to be done)

To undertake a set of specific tasks utilising the information from the 2002 Amphibian CAMP workshop to further enhance our knowledge of amphibian status in South Asia

To research and disseminate information about funding sources for field surveys

To bring out a newsletter of current amphibian conservation, research, education news (several issues have been brought out and can be found on our website)

• to find the current FROGLEG newsletter Click here

To prepare a Directory of amphibian specialists of South Asia for distribution to all network members

• to see the directory of Amphibian Special Interest Group Members Click here

To prepare educational materials on amphibians at different levels on for conveying to policy makers, politicians, and the public – all ages and languages.

• to view the reports of some of these education programmes Click here

• to view about Amphibian Ark and related activities Click here

To involve researchers in public education on amphibians by providing printed material and guidelines.