A billion frogs on world's plates

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A billion frogs on world's plates

Up to one billion frogs are taken from the wild

for human consumption each year, according to a

new study.

Researchers arrived at this conclusion by

analysing UN trade data, although they

acknowledge there is a lot of uncertainty in the

figure.

France and the US are the two biggest importers,

with significant consumption in several East

Asian nations.

About one-third of all amphibians are listed as

threatened species, with habitat loss the biggest

factor.

But hunting is acknowledged as another important

driver for some species, along with climate

change, pollution and disease - notably the

fungal condition chytridiomycosis which has

brought rapid extinctions to some amphibians.

The new research, to be published in a

forthcoming edition of the journal Conservation

Biology, suggests that the global trade in wild

frogs has been underestimated in the past.

" Frogs legs are on the menu at school cafeterias

in Europe, market stalls and dinner tables across

Asia to high end restaurants throughout the

world, " said Corey Bradshaw from Adelaide

University in Australia.

" Amphibians are already the most threatened

animal group yet assessed because of disease,

habitat loss and climate change - man's massive

appetite for their legs is not helping. "

Amphibians are farmed for food in some countries

but these animals are not included in the new

analysis.

Exporting extinction

Indonesia emerged from Professor Bradshaw's

analysis as both the largest exporter of frogs -

5,000 tonnes per year - and a major consumer.

This has raised concerns that it may soon

experience the declines induced by hunting that

have been seen elsewhere in the world, notably in

France and the US, where species such as the

Californian red-legged frog have crashed.

The researchers suggest that the amphibian trade

may mimic the situation with global fisheries.

" Harvesting seems to be following the same

pattern for frogs as with marine fisheries -

initial local collapses in Europe and North

America, followed by population declines in India

and Bangladesh and now potentially in Indonesia, "

said Professor Bradshaw.

" Absence of essential data to monitor and manage

the wild harvest is a large concern. "

The researchers suggest establishing a

certification scheme so exporters would have to

prove that their animals had been hunted

sustainably.

However, a large portion of the trade in

amphibians for the pet trade is conducted

illegally, and experts say customs officials in

many countries are ill-equipped to spot and deal

with illegal consignments.

 

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7845306.stm

 

Published: 2009/01/22 16:39:23 GMT

 

© BBC MMIX

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Kim Bartlett, President of Animal People, Inc.

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