Do frogs really eat cardamom? Understanding the myth of crop damage by amphibians in the Western Ghats,India |
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Authors: | Arun Kanagavel Sethu Parvathy Nithula Nirmal Nithin Divakar Rajeev Raghavan |
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Institution: | 1.Conservation Research Group,St. Albert’s College,Cochin,India;2.Department of Fisheries Resource Management,Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS),Cochin,India |
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Abstract: | In the Western Ghats of India, amphibians are culled at cardamom plantations since they are perceived to consume cardamom. To better understand the relationship between amphibians and cardamom, a study was undertaken at these plantations, which harbor numerous threatened and range-restricted amphibians. We undertook questionnaire surveys with 298 respondents at 148 plantations across southern India. Time-activity budget and diet analysis surveys were undertaken to determine whether amphibians really consumed cardamom. The conception that amphibians eat cardamom was found to be widespread especially among small-sized plantations, leading to negative perceptions and a lack of interest in amphibian conservation. The plantation community perceives a substantial economic loss due to amphibians, even though this is non-existent as revealed by our field surveys. These perceptions would lead to a continued intolerance of amphibian presence in plantations. A suitable outreach initiative re-affirming facts and spreading awareness on the positive role of amphibians would need to be conducted to negate this age-old myth. |
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