Is our appetite for frogs driving them to extinction?
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Our frogs are disappearing as our appetites increase
Things you may not know: America, like Europe, has a pretty massive appetite for frog legs … and that hunger may very well be causing frog extinctions around the globe. Scientific American reports on a new study released this week that weighs the demand: 2,280 metric tons of frog legs, which come from somewhere between 450 million and 1.1 billion frogs, are imported to the US each year; the EU’s appetite is about double ours. Another 2,216 metric tons of live frogs enters our borders as well. All for a menu entry that’s harming frog populations in two ways, according to the report.
First, we’re removing too many frogs from the wild, weakening natural populations. Second, the imported frogs often bring the chytrid fungus. A separate study found that 62% of bullfrogs sent to California from Asian farms are infected with it, and Scientific American calls these bullfrogs “perfect vectors”: They almost never die from the fungus but they do spread it. A 2004 study found native amphibian species that encounter it experience an 80% mortality rate, and it’s already wiped out roughly 100 native species worldwide. The groups behind the report are pushing for greater regulation of the trade.
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1. I don’t believe Amerryca has a huge appetite for frog legs.
2. Frogs have been taking a big hit from something other than consumption for the past few decades. Some speculate it’s solar radiation poisoning. Some say toxins both natural and human produced. Seems to be a universal/worldwide occurrence though.
I am going to do my part and quit eating frog legs. Actually, I should say, I’ll never start eating them. This is going to be tough.