French craze for frog leg delicacies threatening amphibian species

What's happening?| Shutterstock

What's the buzz?

France’s craze for frog meat is endangering species in Asia and Southeast Europe, experts have warned. | Shutterstock

Open letter to the President:

Researchers and conservation groups have called on French President Emmanuel Macron to “end the overexploitation of frogs.” | Facebook

Why France?

The majority of EU's frog imports (equivalent to 80-200 million) reaches France, The Guardian said in a report. | Shutterstock

France's frog leg consumption:

It is claimed that France alone consumes more than 3,000 tons of frozen frog legs a year. | Shutterstock

Where is frog meat reaching Paris from?

These animals are largely captured from the wilds of Indonesia, Turkey and Albania, and farms in Vietnam. | Shutterstock

Threatened species identified:

According to reports, two common species – the crab-eating frog (Fejervarya cancrivora) and rice-field frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) – have been in decline due to continued largescale commercial harvests. | Facebook

Why exported frogs reach France?

While the frogs are protected under law in EU countries, the natural populations in many countries are threatened for consumption in these same countries, protestors point out. | Shutterstock