Why we should kiss The frog

Conservationist Seema Bhatt spoke to Kritika Dua about the pressing issue of  saving amphibians

Did you know that the frog plays a variety of roles in several cultures and is not limited to appearing in folklore and fairy tales such as The Frog Prince? In ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the amphibian symbolised fertility, while in classical antiquity, the Greeks and Romans associated it with fertility, harmony and licentiousness. The mysterious creature has an array of documentaries, books and exhibitions to its credit. Simply because it is the best indicator of the health of its environment, changing with the slightest stimulus and warning humans.

Amphibians are one of the most threatened group of animals.  According to reports, over 7,000 species of amphibians (frogs, toads, and salamanders) have been documented globally so far and more are being discovered. FrogFest, organised by WWF, is aimed at linking art with the larger picture, which is its conservation.

The event exhibits a personal collection of frog artefacts from over 40 countries, belonging to Seema Bhatt and a rendering of frogs in folk as well as contemporary art by young artists which has been curated by Aditya Arya and Mamata Pandya. The unique event will highlight the role of art in conservation and how it can help build conversations around issues that need prominence.

Bhatt believes that art is a beautiful medium to link masses with the conservation process, by creating awareness about amphibians, the most threatened group of animals.

The display of the artefacts is supported by a series of around 12 panels that highlights the conservation significance of frogs in nature and offers a peep into the mysterious world they live in and the initiatives that should be taken to conserve them. The event has been further enhanced by expert inputs from amphibian scientists — Dr Sathyabhama Das Biju and Dr Gururaja KV. Their photographs revolve around the new frog species discovered in India. 

Bhatt spilled the beans on how she collected fascinating frog artifacts, a journey spanning three decades: “I brought my first frog artifact from Nairobi, Kenya while on a vacation. The cane pot holder intrigued me. Being a conservationist working on biodiversity issues, travelling is a major requirement. My collection only grew from there as everywhere I visited, I collected artistic pieces of the creature as souvenirs. Soon, my name became synonymous with frogs for close friends and they too fuelled my desire by gifting them to me. What started as a hobby gradually took shape of passion as I was short of areas to keep the 500 odd pieces. Then, I decided to share them with the world through this exhibition. Since, I had a long association with WWF, a place I started my career with, I thought it was a fitting organisation to display it alongside folk artworks— madhubani, pichwai, warli by Amresh Jha, Manish Soni and Amit Mahadev Dombhare respectively.”

The exhibit is expected to garner the attention of young minds with an interesting lineup, including guest lectures, film screenings and nature games.

Frogs always fascinated her. Bhatt asserted, “As a biologist I am aware about their importance in the ecosystem. Frogs are one of the major indicators of biodiversity loss as their skin is really sensitive to pesticides, toxins, chemicals, changes in temperature and moisture environment and climate change. And the artefacts I came crossed instantly called out to me to highlight their frailty.”

Interestingly, she found frog artefacts in every country as the amphibian is a significant creature in almost every culture. Mexican toads are covered in warts and bumps while frogs have smooth skin. They live in wet, marshy lands while toads can live in dry environment. The bumps and warts on toads’ skins served a crucial purpose in Mexican religion as they secreted poison that could cause hallucinogenic states used in ritual practice.

Bhatt added that the species  is culturally relevant across the globe from North America to Canada to Africa. “Any culture that resides in the vicinity of forest or agricultural land is familiar with the amphibian. In India, monsoon is deeply connected with the species as it hints at the  arrival of the season with which they come out in large numbers, hopping and croaking. Similarly, in ancient China images of frogs were found on the drums and were used to summon thunder and much needed rain. Japanese word for frogs in Kaeru (return), travellers carry frog artefacts to ensure good journey or safe return.” Caricatures of the animal have become popular among kids owing to Kermit on the television series Sesame Street, Pepe and The Princess and the Frog.

The unique exhibit also depicts the metamorphosis of frog — eggs to tadpole to froglets with a mysterious element attached to it. The threatened species that is susceptible to climate change should be a cause of concern as it hints towards degradation of environment. “Frogs are disappearing with the loss of habitats and we are losing wetlands everyday. I have observed the same in Delhi also, their habitats are vanishing due to an expansive rate of construction that is unacceptable and demands immediate attention.” The ongoing exhibit traces the history of amphibians, their life cycles, the different environment they live in and their surprisingly uncertain future.

Photos: Pankaj Kumar