Guwahati: Beyond the thunder of rhinos and elephants, Kaziranga National Park hums with quieter, subtler life — the croak of frogs after rain, the slither of snakes beneath fallen leaves, the slow crawl of turtles through flooded marshes.
A new scientific survey by the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has unveiled an astonishing diversity of amphibians and reptiles — 108 species in all, more than half of Northeast India’s total herpetofaunal richness.
The report, titled Herpetofaunal Diversity at Kaziranga, is the first comprehensive study to map the park’s hidden amphibian world using both traditional field methods and AI-based acoustic monitoring, a cutting-edge technique that records frog calls to identify species.
Conducted between July and September 2025, the survey marks a milestone in documenting the ecological depth of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The study recorded 31 new species of herpetofauna — including 17 amphibians and 14 reptiles — across the park’s ranges and adjoining habitats. The findings bring Kaziranga’s total tally to 108 species, underlining its role as a living laboratory of floodplain ecology.
“Amphibians are among the most sensitive indicators of environmental change,” said Dr Abhijit Das, Scientist at WII and lead researcher of the study. “Their presence across varied habitats — from forest trails to wetlands — reflects the health and integrity of Kaziranga’s ecosystems.”
The survey found the highest amphibian richness in the Bagori Range, followed by Burhapahar and Kohora, with frogs thriving in moist streamside habitats and ephemeral pools formed during the monsoon. The abundance of amphibians in these areas, researchers note, directly correlates with clean water and intact vegetation cover.
The Hidden Stars of Kaziranga
Among the species recorded were several of conservation and scientific importance — including the Striped Caecilian (Ichthyophis sp.), Chiromantis assamensis (VU), Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, and Minervarya pierrei — alongside a host of tree frogs, narrow-mouthed frogs, and bush frogs whose calls form the park’s unseen soundtrack during the rains.
Passive acoustic monitoring enabled scientists to capture the distinct mating calls of elusive species rarely seen in the wild. “This non-invasive method not only expands our knowledge of amphibian distribution but also sets the foundation for long-term ecological monitoring,” Dr Das explained.
Amphibians play a vital ecological role in Kaziranga’s dynamic floodplain. They control insect populations, serve as prey for snakes and birds, and act as biological indicators of changing water and soil conditions. Their permeable skin makes them highly responsive to environmental stress, from pollution to temperature shifts — a sensitivity that scientists describe as “the pulse of ecosystem health.”
Dr Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, noted that the study reinforces the park’s multidimensional importance. “Kaziranga is often celebrated for its megafauna, but its strength also lies in the smaller, lesser-seen creatures that sustain the web of life. This survey gives voice to that hidden world.”
The report also highlights threats to amphibian habitats, including siltation, climate change, and hydrological changes that alter breeding patterns. Researchers recommend establishing long-term acoustic monitoring stations and integrating amphibian data into broader biodiversity management plans.
Kaziranga’s frogs and toads, the study concludes, are more than just inhabitants of its wetlands — they are the storytellers of its changing seasons, the early warning system for its environment, and the living heartbeat of its rich floodplain ecosystem.
From the nighttime chorus echoing through the beels to the soft rustle of a tree frog leaping after rain, the new survey reaffirms one truth: even in the shadow of the great one-horned rhino, the smallest voices matter most in keeping Kaziranga alive.
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