Animal Planet to premiere 'The Secret Life of Frogs', a first-ever documentary on amphibians of India

Animal Planet, the wildlife channel, will premiere the first-ever documentary film that focuses exclusively on amphibians of India – ‘The Secret Life of Frogs’, on May 1 at 9pm.

Shot over three years, the film is directed by the award-wining third generation of wildlife filmmakers – Vijay and Ajay Bedi.  The Bedi brothers capture species that have their own unique story to tell – a frog that uses dance moves to seduce its mate, another that does a headstand, or the ‘potter frog’ that gently encases his eggs in clay to protect from predators. This film throws up behavioural facts hitherto unknown to science, documenting for the first time the entire life cycle of the highly endangered, rare purple frog that emerges from underground to breed for just one day in a year. Catch ‘The Secret Life of Frogs’ on May 1 at 9pm on Animal Planet and Animal Planet HD World.

The Secret Life of Frogs will premiere as a part of new anthology ‘Animal Planet Presents’, which showcases award-winning films all weekdays – Monday to Friday at 9 pm. The anthology includes multiple award-winning films like ‘Tigerland, ‘A Wolf’s Journey’, legacy hit series like ‘Dodo Heroes’ ‘Epic Yellowstone’ and ‘Ivory Wars’.

The Secret Life of Frogs is a quest to draw attention to these tiny creatures as old as dinosaurs yet still a mystery to science.  The quest is important as more than 80% of the 400 species of amphibians found in India are already on the endangered list.  Some have not been seen from 18 to as long as 170 years. The figures are dire but important especially when one considers that about 60% of amphibians are endemic to the sub-continent.

Zulfia Waris, Vice-President, Premium and Digital Networks, Discovery Communications India, said, “The Secret Life of Frogs has been told in an easy lyrical way. The aim is to draw attention to fossorial creatures that seldom receive conservation attention. The film is an ode to amphibians, it is also a plea to save them.”

Bedi Brothers Vijay and Ajay

“At a time when film makers take pride in charismatic mega fauna, we have chosen tiny creatures as the heroes of our film. We realise this is a huge risk, but it is worth it, as no one is telling the story of frogs. The handful of people working for their conservation need to be celebrated as well, they too are heroes in our film,” said Bedi Brothers – Ajay and Vijay. “I still remember where I live in Delhi, we used to hear the gentle murmur of frogs calling from the neighbourhood parks as the monsoon hit North India, those croaks have gone silent. Across the world a dreaded disease called the Chytrid fungus is wiping out frog species in large numbers. In India too, a complex set of reasons from roads cutting through their habitats to climate change to mini hydel dams in the forest is endangering species. With so much attention focused on tigers and mega fauna, the amphibians of India are fighting a lonely battle for survival.  Somehow, we have forgotten how rich our country is in other forms of life.  Our hope through ‘The Secret Life of Frogs’ is to ignite inspiration for an army of frog champions.”

Leading scientists such as SD Biju from Delhi University, Gururaja from Gubbi Labs and a team of young passionate scientists studying these unique creatures have been an integral part of the film's journey in spreading awareness towards conservation of amphibians.

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