SAVE THE FROGS! India Internships

Frogwatching Magic: Interns Discover Twilight Wonders in South Bengal

Despite the delayed monsoon and the resulting humid heatwave in South Bengal, India, we couldn’t resist visiting the frog habitats near Kolkata. The area, with its small ponds, fields, bushes, and seasonal puddles, became the perfect spot for our budding frogwatchers to encounter their first frog. Although they had seen frogs before, this time they spotted them through their own efforts. 

It was twilight, and I was patiently waiting for nightfall. Once it was dark, the magic began. I called the interns and we ventured into a dense bush beside a pond. Knowing the area had Russell’s Vipers, we took all necessary precautions. The bush revealed its wonders: a frog sat quietly on the pond bank, a tiny frog hopped by, and tree frogs started calling from the higher perches of trees and plants. I instructed the interns to listen to the calls, then switch off the light and stand still. A male frog called again right above our heads. I turned on the torch, and there it was—a calling Indian Treefrog (Polypedates maculatus)! It was the first time our interns observed a calling frog, and the smiles on their faces brought me immense satisfaction. I had successfully shared my love for frogs with the younger generation. We went on to spot more species, but this was just the beginning.

Photo of Indian Treefrog (Polypedates maculatus) by Shreya Sarkar