under the leaf ...:)

Don’t you love the monsoons? With the first of the pre-monsoon showers, the lilies under our evergreen tree begin to grow and bloom. The creatures I love most, which I associate with the rains, are the frogs. My sister tells me I kissed one when I was a wee child. He didn’t turn into a prince. He probably thought I would eat him. But I would never eat a frog.

Watching tadpoles mature is one of the greatest joys of childhood. Running after frogs and holding them in your hand (don’t tell Ma, she worries they will piss on me!) while others squeal in disgust or delight-now that’s fun! Those little brown frogs with pointed noses love coming into the house, tree frogs too. There a couple of large warty toads hopping about the place throughout the year. The loud croaking of bullfrogs has been a pleasant lullaby at the start of the rains.

I wonder how long these simple pleasures will last. The number of frogs is decreasing. People are filling in the water bodies that are the frogs’ homes. Some squish them because they dislike them. Others eat them. Now, I am aware frog legs are considered a delicacy but the practice is rather cruel, don’t you think? It is like shark fin soup-you want just the fin, so you drag the thrashing, gnashing shark on board, cut off the fin and dump the doomed wounded creature back into the sea.

The legs of frogs are cut off and the frog bleeds to death. Someone enjoys a plate of ‘jumping chicken’ without realizing the impact of his indulgence- fewer frogs means fewer natural controllers of the mosquito population. It also means more snakes going hungry, searching for food in areas inhabited by humans. Frogs also control pests like spiders and flies. And they are cute!

Don’t eat frog meat. Persuade others who do to give it up. Here are the reasons why:

1. Frogs eat mosquitoes (no one loves them). Snakes eat frogs (no one wants to be bitten by them). Some birds eat frogs too; don’t deprive them of their prey.
2. “Massive toxic recalcitrant residues from agrochemicals biomagnified in the food chain get accumulated in the fat deposits of the frog.” (from the flyer issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Goa) Translation- Who knows what you are ingesting when you eat frog meat?
3. “Consumption of frogs over a period of time could trigger paralytic strokes, cancers, kidney failures and other deformities” (same source as above)
4. Last, but not least: the Government of India has banned catching, killing, selling, exporting frog meat under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. The punishment? A fine of Rs. 25000 and 3 years imprisonment.

I think locally reared, organic chicken is better for everyone.

Green Tip: Save money, time and yourself- say no to frog meat.