On Monday, authorities in Colombia seized 130 toxic frogs that have been being smuggled by means of Bogota airport and arrested the Brazilian lady who was carrying them.
The lady was transporting colourful harlequin poison frogs (oophaga histrionica) in movie containers whereas touring to Sao Paulo with a stopover in Panama.
She “claimed {that a} area people had given it to her as a present,” Bogota's surroundings secretary Adriana Soto mentioned in a video shared with media.
Harlequin frogs are toxic, measuring lower than 5 centimeters (two inches) and reside in moist forests alongside the Pacific coast between Ecuador and Colombia, in addition to in different nations in Central and South America.
“This endangered species is wanted in worldwide markets,” mentioned Bogota police chief Juan Carlos Arevalo, including that non-public collectors might pay as much as $1,000 for every.
Police mentioned the lady carrying the frogs was arrested “for the crime of monitoring wildlife” earlier than being handed over to prosecutors.
Animal trafficking is widespread in Colombia – one of the biodiverse nations on the planet – particularly amphibians, small mammals and components of marine animals, reminiscent of sharks.
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