Toads don't spell doom

Dulshani GUNAWARDENA and Disna MUDALIGE

Contrary to reports, the Daily News learns that there is no correlation between the recent outbreak of toads reported in Moratuwa and surrounding areas and any impending earthquake.

The University Zoology Department Senior Lecturer Nihal Dayawansa told the Daily News this phenomenan was merely the result of weather changes rather than an ill omen of impending disaster.

The past few weeks reported an outbreak of toads in Moratuwa and surrounding areas, with more recent reports from Panadura.

According to Dr Dayawamsa, the particular species is Dattapharynx Melanostictus or the house toad, the commonest toad species in Sri Lanka. This species thrives in fresh water and extremely in wet conditions, their survival ensured by explosive reproduction. Bolgoda lake, a prominent base of this species, contains higher level of salinity than fresh water.

As with other members of the family, this species of toads have the ability to sense upcoming changes in the weather.

With the onset of the rainy season, shallow pools of fresh water have formed in the surrounding environs of Bolgoda Lake. Sensing a prolonged rainy season than usual, the frogs have moved to these pools for reproduction. The situation was ideal for reproduction, with less predators and a lack of insecticides. With their increasing population, the toads have moved further inland, before salinity levels increase and the weather becomes drier.

Dr Dayawamsa emphasized that instead of this outcry of fear, people should be pleased as these creatures, are in fact, nature's insecticides.

Replying to inquiries made by the Daily News as to why such a condition has not been reported earlier or in other parts of the island, Dr Dayawamsa said this rainy season was longer and more intensive than usual. This phenomena would have occurred earlier in less populated areas, where there has been no prior reports.

The observance that the vast majority of creatures being froglets, not toads, further confirmed the fact that the outbreak was more due to massive scale reproduction rather than migration due to upcoming disaster.

He noted that with the rainy season on the wane, the majority would be eliminated by natural circumstances. He specifically requested the public not to harm the creatures, as they were more useful than dangerous.