This image highlights the serious problem of Indian Bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus) poaching during the monsoon. We came across a paddy farmer near Jog falls, Mavingundi, Karnataka, who had collected nearly 30 bullfrogs and kept them in a bucket waiting to hand them over to a guy from Goa who was supposed to come and collect the frogs for the Goan Bar/Restaurant market. They are sold as ‘Jumping chicken’ there. We immediately rescued and released them plus reported the poacher to the authorities.
Being a local delicacy for many Goans, the trend of hunting these frogs have now reached appalling proportions. During nights, across the western ghats, one finds groups of villagers going around catching this important species in the hundreds, oblivious to the fact that they are contributing to the local extinction of a key indicator amphibian species just to satisfy their own taste buds.
If you come across anything like this please report it to the authorities and help save the frog. The second thing to do is to not order frog legs at any restaurant that serves it — frog meat trade and consumption is illegal & offenders can be fined upto Rs. 25,000 & imprisoned for 3 years. Kindly spread the word and help conserve these fascinating amphibians!
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Chosen as 'Picture of the Week'
This image highlights the serious problem of Indian Bullfrog poaching during the monsoon. They are sold as 'Jumping chicken' in Goa where it is a local delicacy. The trend of hunting these frogs have now reached appalling proportions.