Several endangered Malabar tree toads have been found crushed under vehicle tyres along Chorla Ghat, a biodiversity hotspot in the Western Ghats, during their annual monsoon migration, triggering alarm among conservationists.
These nocturnal amphibians, endemic to the Western Ghats, emerge during the rainy season to breed and are highly vulnerable to vehicular traffic as they cross forested roads at night. Their deaths this week highlight the rising ecological cost of unchecked vehicular movement through fragile forest corridors. “This is a disturbing trend. The Malabar tree toad is not just rare — it’s a key indicator of the Western Ghats’ ecological health,” said a local conservationist, warning that the species may face further population decline without urgent mitigation efforts.
Chorla Ghat, which links Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, witnesses high traffic volumes even during monsoon months when wildlife activity is at its peak. Despite its ecological importance, the route lacks safeguards such as wildlife underpasses, warning signage, or seasonal traffic controls. Environmental groups have demanded immediate action, including night-time traffic restrictions during the toads’ breeding season, installation of amphibian crossings, and awareness signage to reduce roadkill incidents.
Experts caution that failure to act could lead to irreversible damage to the delicate mountain ecosystem and hasten the extinction of one of India’s least observed but most ecologically significant species.
