Scientists launch a chat bot to raise awareness about frogs and aid conservation

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Facebook might just help you to save a dying species of frogs. Launching this Saturday, Frog Find Bot – an extension of the existing FrogFind app for Android – uses Facebook Messenger to understand input from users and gives back specific, real-time responses. Operating on the same data set and fields as FrogFind, the bot allows users to ask specific questions about a frog and get back with just that answer. The bot is aimed at transforming a common man into a herpetologist. It helps you identify a frog species in your backyard and know all about it.

The next time you spot a frog, don’t just walk away. With the right use of this new technology introduced by a group of scientists, you might just help report a new species of the amphibian or even better help save an endangered one. All you must do is use your Facebook Messenger to get in touch with the interactive, real-time application called the Frog Find Bot.

Developed by city-based scientists, the Frog Find Bot will chat with users as they key in the features of the frog and will answer their questions about the species. Not just that, the interactive application will even understand what technical term you are referring to with the description you feed into it. This might also be a chance for a common man to spot a rare species right in the neighborhood. “For instance, if you type into the bot saying ‘common toad found’, it will respond with its features and help you confirm. You can even ask for the vocal call associated with it and it will play the audio. It interacts with the users in real-time based on the request fed into it,” Dr Gururaja KV said, who is a faculty at the Shrishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology and an adjunct scientist with Gubbi Labs which has developed the Find Frog Bot. The bot was developed by Harish Shanti Kumar and Dr Gururaja helped in getting the data regarding the frogs.

The amphibian, which is always characterised by its ‘slimy and ugly’ appearance, is a treasure house of benefits for the environment. Unfortunately, there is limited participation and awareness about frogs in India and scientists like Dr Gururaja have tried various techniques to attract the attention of common people and scientists to the field. Gubbi Labs started their movement to raise awareness about the amphibians with a book about the frogs and toads of Western Ghats back in 2012. Since then, they developed FrogFind app (first of its kind in India) in 2013 and even released audio recordings of 75 frog calls called ‘Manduka Vaani’ in 2015. With the recent launch of their Find Frog Bot, they aim to spark the interest of people into frog sciences.

“There are only 15 to 20 scientists involved in the frog sciences and when we look at the vastness of our country we need more people into the field. With technological advancement, the pocket guide of frogs became obsolete and we introduced the app. But this Find Frog Bot is an interactive platform. It will benefit the people and the environment as well,” Dr Gururaja said.

Frogs, according to Dr Gururaja, are ecological indicators and missing frogs mean that the environment is not healthy. Natural pest controllers, frogs are also helpful in curing various diseases thanks to the chemicals found on their skin. Yet, the awareness is not widespread. “The objective behind our efforts is to bring as many people as possible on board to understand the importance of frog sciences,” he added.