STRIPED BEAUTY: The phantasmal poison frog, seen here carrying tadpoles on its back, is native to Ecuador.

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STANDARDS:

NGSS: Core Idea: LS2.C    

CCSS: Literacy in Science: 7    

TEKS: TEKS: 7.10A, B.12B, B.12F, E.4G

Frogs for Sale

A group of scientists aims to put frog smugglers out of business

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How can scientists fight the illegal trade in wildlife?

JIM MCMAHON/MAPMAN®

A few years ago, a passenger was making his way through the security check at the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. He seemed like an ordinary tourist, except for one thing—his luggage was filled with food containers. When officials opened them, they found 184 frogs and 203 tadpoles. The stash was one of Costa Rica’s biggest wildlife-smuggling cases ever.

Police believe the man planned to sell the animals, which had been taken illegally from the wild. Why would people want to buy stolen frogs? “They’re beautiful,” says Sebastián Valdivieso, head of the Wildlife Conservation Society branch in Ecuador. The striking exotic animals are highly prized as pets by collectors around the world.

A few years ago, a passenger came to the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. He tried to go through security. He seemed like any other tourist, except for one thing. His bags were filled with food containers. Officers opened them and found 184 frogs and 203 tadpoles. The stash was one of Costa Rica’s biggest wildlife-smuggling cases.

The animals had been taken illegally from the wild. Police believe the man planned to sell them. Why would people want to buy stolen frogs? “They’re beautiful,” says Sebastián Valdivieso, head of the Wildlife Conservation Society branch in Ecuador. Collectors around the world want the eye-catching exotic animals as pets.

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CAPTIVE TRAVELERS: A smuggler transports frogs from Panama to Belgium in film canisters.

Like Costa Rica, Ecuador is another country targeted by frog smugglers. The nation is home to 578 known frog species, about half of which are found only in Ecuador. To curb wildlife trafficking, scientists there have come up with a unique idea. They’re breeding native frogs in a lab and selling them lawfully. They aim to outsmart smugglers by reducing the demand for illegally traded frogs. That would allow more of the animals to remain in the wild—where they belong. 

Like Costa Rica, Ecuador has a problem with frog smugglers. The nation is home to 578 known frog species. About half of these are found only in Ecuador. Scientists there came up with a unique idea to fight wildlife trafficking. They’re breeding native frogs in a lab and selling them lawfully. They hope to outsmart smugglers by lowering the demand for illegally traded frogs. That would allow more of the animals to remain in the wild, where they belong.

KEY SPECIES

The exotic frogs targeted by smugglers come mainly from tropical countries in Central and South America. These warm, wet regions have a greater diversity of frogs than anywhere else in the world.

Each frog species plays an important role in its native ecosystem. Frogs eat insects, spiders, and other bugs, and they’re also prey for birds or other animals. Removing a frog species from the wild can affect the community of organisms in its environment, says Rudolf von May, a biologist at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

Smugglers steal frogs mostly from tropical countries in Central and South America. These regions are warm and wet. They have more types of frogs than anywhere else in the world.

Each frog species is important to its ecosystem. Frogs eat insects, spiders, and other bugs. They’re also prey for birds or other animals. Taking a frog species from the wild can affect the living things in its environment, says Rudolf von May. He’s a biologist at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

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LIFE IN THE TREES: The splendid leaf frog lives in treetops, descending only to breed (left).

MOUNTAIN DWELLER: The Riobamba pouched frog, found in the Andes Mountains, is endangered (right).

Wildlife trafficking isn’t the only danger to frog populations (see Frogs at Risk). In recent years, a variety of threats have caused frog numbers around the world to plummet—leaving many species facing extinction (see Threatened Species). According to Ecuador’s environment ministry, about 30 percent of the country’s frog species are at risk of disappearing.

Wildlife trafficking isn’t the only danger to frogs (see Frogs at Risk). Several threats have caused frog numbers around the world to drop in recent years. Many species are in danger of extinction (see Threatened Species). About 30 percent of Ecuador’s frog species could disappear, the country’s environment ministry says.

PRIZED AS PETS

Frogs come in all colors, shapes, and sizes: They can be electric blue or nearly transparent, poisonous or harmless, as big as your hand or tiny enough to perch on your fingertip. Some people are willing to pay as much as $600 for a particularly beautiful or rare frog.

Frogs come in all colors, shapes, and sizes: They can be bright blue or almost see-through, poisonous or harmless. They can be as big as your hand or tiny enough to sit on your fingertip. Some people are willing to pay high prices for them. A beautiful or rare frog can sell for up to $600.

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MAKING FROGS: The company Wikiri’s lab in Ecuador

Many countries don’t allow people to export wild frogs, but smugglers disregard the laws. Sometimes they offer local people money to catch a certain species that is popular among pet owners in places like the U.S., Europe, or Japan. The smuggler pays just a few dollars for a frog that will later sell for a much higher amount. He or she then packs the frogs in containers—like the smuggler described earlier did. Then the trafficker puts the frogs in a suitcase and flies off to sell them—usually over the internet or at exotic pet shows.

Many countries don’t allow people to remove wild frogs. But smugglers ignore the laws. Sometimes they pay local people to catch a certain species. They choose one that pet owners in places like the U.S., Europe, or Japan want. The smuggler pays a few dollars for a frog but will sell it for much more. He or she packs the frogs in containers. That’s what the smuggler described earlier did. Then the smuggler puts the frogs in a suitcase and flies off to sell them. The frogs are usually sold over the internet or at exotic pet shows.

But scientists at the Jambatu Center for Research and Conservation of Amphibians are trying to outwit smugglers. At their facility in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, the center studies and maintains populations of local frog species that are at risk in the wild.

A few years ago, Jambatu founded a company called Wikiri that runs a captive breeding program. Wikiri raises rare, highly sought-after frogs in lab terrariums and outdoor gardens, as well as on a nearby farm and nature reserve. The frogs are then sold and shipped legally to people all over the world. Wikiri currently breeds and sells 16 frog species. Its scientists believe the business will make selling frogs on the black market less profitable, thwarting would-be wildlife traffickers. The money made by Wikiri also helps pay for Jambatu’s conservation work.

But scientists in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, are trying to outsmart smugglers. They work at the Jambatu Center for Research and Conservation of Amphibians. The center studies and keeps populations of local frog species. These species are at risk in the wild.

A few years ago, Jambatu started a company called Wikiri. It runs a captive breeding program. Wikiri raises rare frogs that many collectors want. The frogs grow in lab terrariums and outdoor gardens, plus on a nearby farm and nature reserve. Then the frogs are sold and shipped legally to people all over the world. Wikiri breeds and sells 16 frog species. Its scientists believe the business could help stop people who want to smuggle wildlife. If people can buy frogs legally, traffickers won’t make as much money selling frogs on the black market. The money made by Wikiri also helps pay for Jambatu’s conservation work.

GUILLERMO GRANJA/REUTERS (LAB); ©MOREVALUE, INC (BREEDING GROUNDS))
  • HELPING HAND? The Wikiri lab raises frogs for legal sale (left).
  • BREEDING GROUNDS: The company breeds frogs at sites like this one (right).

Raising frogs in captivity requires time, patience, and expertise. Wikiri scientists spend about two years experimenting to figure out the best way to breed a species, says Lola Guarderas of Wikiri.

It takes time, patience, and skill to raise frogs in captivity. Wikiri scientists need to find the best way to breed a species. They spend about two years figuring it out, says Lola Guarderas of Wikiri.

BUYER BEWARE

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SEE-THROUGH: The Sun’s glass frog has skin that is transparent in some places.

Not everyone agrees that captive breeding will reduce trafficking, though. The demand for exotic frogs could be so great that those produced by captive breeding might not put a dent in the market. Guarderas admits that’s a risk. But she says groups like Wikiri help in other ways. Their presence educates frog collectors about the importance of buying animals legally versus removing them from the wild. “I can’t say we’re winning the battle against smuggling yet,” she says. “But that’s what we’re fighting for.”

Not everyone agrees that captive breeding will lower trafficking. The demand for exotic frogs is great. The frogs from captive breeding might not put a dent in the market. Guarderas says that’s a risk. But she says groups like Wikiri help in other ways. They teach frog collectors that it’s important to buy animals legally, not remove them from the wild. “I can’t say we’re winning the battle against smuggling yet,” she says. “But that’s what we’re fighting for.”

Another potential challenge of this approach is that buyers may not be able to tell if a frog is captive-bred or taken from the wild. Experts suggest asking questions: Where was the frog bred? Does that country allow frogs to be exported? The seller should have permits showing that the frogs were bred in captivity and imported legally. Paperwork can be falsified, however, so even that is no guarantee.

Buyers should also remember that keeping rare frogs in captivity isn’t the same as maintaining a healthy population in their natural habitat, says Valdivieso of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Ecuador. “If we want to take care of frogs, let’s try to keep them in their own homes, not in ours.”

Captive breeding may raise another challenge. Buyers may not be able to tell if a frog is captive-bred or taken from the wild. Experts suggest asking questions. Where was the frog bred? Does that country allow frogs to be exported? The seller should have permits. These papers show that the frogs were bred in captivity and imported legally. But papers can be faked, so even that isn’t proof.

Buyers should also remember something, says Valdivieso of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Ecuador. Keeping rare frogs in captivity isn’t the same as keeping a healthy population in their natural habitat. He says, “If we want to take care of frogs, let’s try to keep them in their own homes, not in ours.”

CORE QUESTION: Do you think Wikiri’s program will work to reduce the trafficking of wild frogs? Use evidence from the text to explain why or why not.

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