Project carried out by:
Nature Environment & Wildlife Society, Kolkata, West Bengal

Project Funded by:
Public affairs Section, Embassy of United States of America, New Delhi, India

Duration of the project:
October 2002 to November 2003 (One Year)

Background:

Out of the 209 amphibian species of India, the Himalayan Salamander, Tylototriton Verrucosus Anderson is the only one in which the larval tail is retained through out its life as it totally aquatic ancestors and therefore regarded as a living fossil. The species is included in the Scheduled II of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

During the course of the study of the project ‘Estimation of population trends of Endangered Wildlife of West Bengal’ sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi, investigating team of NEWS had found that populations of Himalayan Salamander has declined or even totally wiped out from many of its erstwhile habitat. Most of these habitats have totally been destroyed or are located near some urban areas or tourist spots. Local boys used to collect Salamanders and sell them to the tourists.

But NEWS team also found a fairly good population of Salamanders in Namthing Pokhri Area. Namthing Pokhri is a small seasonal water body of the eastern Himalaya in Kurseong Division, Darjeeling District. it lies at an altitude of 1500 m. The region is scarcely populated. Outsiders or tourists rarely visit the area owing to isolated location as well as lack of infrastructure of facilities such as electricity, drinking water etc. So it appeared that this sight is ideal for conservation and captive breeding project of Himalayan Salamanders.

 Objectives:

1. To study the preference of habitats and microhabitat by the species and the physico-chemical parameters of land & water.
2. Construction of fencing encompassing the Pokhri so that no one can intrude without permission.
3. Establishment of a laboratory and herpetorium to study the behaviour and carry out captive breeding programme.
4. Survey of neighbouring seasonal or perennial waterbodies to locate further viable population of Himalayan Salamander.
5. Organising awareness camps to generate consciousness regarding conservation of Himalayan Salamander. Also to develop a local NGO to look after the conservation after the project is over.

Methodology and Results:

1. Broad Quadrate Sampling (BQS) method was applied for revealing the amphibian species composition and estimating the frequency of their occurrence in different habitats during hibernation. It has been found that Salamanders hibernate under the surface of earth upto 20 cm. when there is a cover of boulder, lag or leaf litter, in between stalks of woods or fodder, even under loose and moist soil.

   1. Preferred microhabitats of Salamanders are leaf-litter (37.66%) followed by crop fields without crop (17.53%).
   2. Maximum numbers of hibernating Salamanders were found within 150 m of Pokhri.
   3. Total length (snout to tip of tail) of smallest and largest hibernating animal was 51 mm and 168 mm respectively, while minimum and maximum weight was 5.6 gm and 16.4 gm respectively.
   4. Night survey revealed that with the onset of the first rain during April, Salamanders come out from their hibernation of night, and move towards Pokhri.
   5. From mid-June, no terrestrial Salamander could be observed till the month of October when the Pokhri began to dry.
   6. Pokhri water was found to be acidic, PH value varied within 4.5 – 5. It was highest during August, when water level was highest.
   7. Water temperature was minimum (11⁰c) in October and maximum (26⁰c) in June. Highest daily fluctuation was recorded in June (Min 14⁰c, Max 26⁰c) and lowest in August (12⁰c & 20⁰c).
   8. Value of dissolved oxygen ranged from 7.8 to 9 and attained highest level in August.
   9. Chloride content was 1.1 mg/liter. Nitrate and Phosphate content was ranging from 0.03 to 0.04 mg/l and 0.01 to 0.03 mg/l.
   10. During initial accumulation of water (in April – May) sulphate content was 4.02 ppm and gradually increasing upto 6.01 ppm in Oct.
       
2. When there is water in Pokhri, it is used by local people to bathe, wash utensils/clothes. Often vehicles are driven along the slope of water for servicing. So the whole Pokhri was fenced with iron angles and birbed wire. A grilled gate was made for allowing entry to the Pokhri as and when required.
3. In captivity after one hour of introducing a pair of male and female Salamander the male performed an elaborate courtship by chasing the female. After about an hour of courtship the male entangled with the female from below and hold the mate by clasping his forelegs. At this stage the pair moved throughout the aquarium with occasional rest of few seconds in floating condition. Pairing lasted for about an hour. It was 22^nd June.
   
1. On 24^th June, the female started laying eggs on the leaves of submersed aquatic plants.
2. Between 15^th to 17^th July, hatching of eggs started. A total of 41 Larvae were hatched. At this stage only fore legs and trace of gills were visible and was 8 to 9 mm in length.
3. By 5^th August, well developed hind and fore legs and 3 pairs of feathery gills and dorsal fins were clearly visible. Finely minced earthworm, tubiflex worms and live daphnia were provided as food. At this size was 18 – 22 mm.
4. By 23^rd to 27^th August, gills and dorsal fins started obliterating and indicating almost completion of Meta morphosis towards its terrestrial life. At this stage the size was 28 – 32 mm and they were released in the Pokhri.
   
4. Survey conducted on foot revealed the existence of five small adjacent pokhris (all are seasonal water bodies) located at 17 m. where the Salamanders in few number are available.
5. From the very beginning local people including school teachers and students showed keen interest in the captive breeding programme and the local people helped in various ways throughout the project work. A NGO formation is now in course of progress.

Recommendation:

1. Present arrangements for the protection of Pokhri to be maintained permanently.
2. Calculated plantation programme should be developed around Pokhri to minimise soil erosion and also for regular accumulation of leaf litter.
3. Arrangement of technical and financial support to the newly formed NGO to be made.
4. Laboratory at Namthing Pokhri should be developed as an ideal captive breeding centre for Salamanders and maintaining a stock of captive breeding population as a part of ex-situ conservation.
5. Salamanders have lost much of their earlier range in Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas. With appropriate financial support, survey to be initiated at different areas of Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills in search of seasonal or perennial water bodies having salamanders.