Karwar: Rare frogs caught, sold in Goa as 'jumping chicken' delicacies


Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Jun 26: The situation in coastal areas of Uttara Kannada has turned so severe that the frogs may be afraid of opening their mouths to croak. Because like fish, frogs are also in high demand now. The increasing demand for live frogs has dismayed nature lovers.

Indian bullfrogs which have so far survived in Uttara Kannada district are in demand in Goa and Maharashtra. Not only Goans, even foreign visitors have fallen in love with the meat of this frog, which is popularly known with the name, 'jumping chicken'.

There is ban on hunting of this frog in Karnataka and Goa. As such, the frogs reach eateries and restaurants illegally and then get marketed as 'jumping chicken'.

Goa has strict measures in place against catching of Indian bullfrogs. Therefore, the restaurant operators have turned towards Karwar to improve their earnings. Depending upon the size, a frog may fetch anywhere between Rs 600 to 1,000.

Indian bullfrogs breed at the beginning of the monsoon season. They come out at this time of the year. As these frogs are larger in size as compared to other frogs, they are easy to identify. Therefore, the hunters catch hold of the frogs alive.

There is information that these frogs do not get slaughtered in advance for separating their skin and flesh. The hunters need to catch them alive. In restaurants too, their legs are in high demand than other body parts. Therefore, their legs are separated and the remaining body part is thrown away. As the legs of these frogs have high content of flesh, they are used for preparing soups, fry etc, it is said.

Citizens of China, Japan, USA, Australia, Turkey, Tibet etc are ready to pay high price to the legs of Indian bullfrogs. Even people from Mumbai and West Bengal have been carried away by the taste of 'jumping chicken' delicacy. The increasing demand for the frogs in Goan restaurants is causing the deaths of more and more frogs. Once the frogs are caught, they are smuggled to restaurants in Goa and Mumbai.

Assistant conservator of forests here, Manjunath Navi, said that the department had no information about illegal transportation of frogs till a few persons found smuggling them were caught along with a number of frogs at the district border with Goa two years back. After the fact that frogs are being marketed as delicacies came to the department's knowledge, strict steps are undertaken and the forest department has been keeping close vigil at the borders, he explained.

He said that Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation depot manager and other staff have been kept informed about this and that they have been asked to convey information in case they come across suspects. A person from Ankola was nabbed earlier and booked for this offence. This case is before the court, he explained.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Devika, Karnataka

    Wed, Oct 06 2021

    Frogs are endemic fauna. In citizen science any overexploitation could cause extinction of species. It would be good to ensure we have enough species for the future. There is a delicate balance where they serve as food for snakes. If we consume the frogs , the snakes are left without food. Then we need to ensure Jumping snakes on the Menu too.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • JNB, Mangalore_Bejai

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    Frog made a mistake recently agreeing to get married,
    so he became so popular now demand is more supply is less.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohammed, Manglore

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    wait for 9 months more will come just married

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sanjeev Kamath, Udupi / Seattle

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    Frogs come under the Schedule IV of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 as well as under the ‘red list' of International Union of the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

    Being protected species and beneficial to crops, catching, killing and selling frogs, or serving frog meat at eating places contravenes the provisions of the Act and attracts 3 years imprisonment and fine of Rs 25,000/-.

    “Massive toxic recalcitrant residues from agrochemicals biomagnified in the food chain get accumulated in fat deposits of frogs. Consumption of frogs could trigger paralytic strokes, cancer, kidney failure and other deformities” reads the advisory in Gulf News dated June 16, 2013.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangaluru

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    No end for human craze for tastes.

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shashi Shetty, Santhoor

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    If we don't learn to respect and see God in the nature in which, one part of our Life is hung what is the point in seeking the god who is invisible? if you don't learn to celebrate a great life , where you can see, touch , feel what is the point in looking at a life after death or up ? The best way is to create a relation with our nature such as theseTrees are my friends, that a mother, this animal a good friend and mountain a great grand father and only then we will start loving this planet. You will have a same love and concern which ever part of the planet you are in? Spiritualism or Religion is all about loving everything not just what you think it is yours. what is yours will not be yours for ever - it is your illusion that, you are feeling it was yours. If I see a mother is everything it is because, I have a great respect to it - be it a frog or an ant. these fauna and flora are very basis for my survival on this planet and why shouldn't I have gratitude towards them ? whats wrong in me creating a relation with them ? for me they are larger than any gods which a person who thinks know it all but, born and die like preaches. even his life is depended on the very same Mother earth I am depended on. So, I also respect a person who questions my principle because, he is also part of this environment I am depended on. I cannot say I am not related to him or her.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    How some people get strange appetite/taste in eating the frogs ! So disgusting and humiliating.
    To pacify our hunger and fill the stomach there other alternatives and importantly vegetables and veg products. (Pakode)

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Pasha, Karnataka

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    As per the wild-life protection act, this is a clear case for being jailed for 5 years. Anyone found catching, processing, serving or eating frog should be jailed for 5 years. Malaria is going to raise it's ugly head very shortly if this continues.

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shashi Shetty, Santhoor

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    Our parents used to tell us killing a frog is as good as killing your mother . So much we were one with nature . What’s happening now ? Everything of up for eating and showing off nowadays .

    DisAgree Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • SAMAD, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    How much mother animals you have?

    DisAgree [22] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shashi Shetty, Santhoor

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    All are like our mother or equivalent because, the mother earth have gifted us to our well being. Why is it burning into you?

    DisAgree [6] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • SAMAD, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    Whatever you see its either god or mother to you people..

    DisAgree [11] Agree [14] Report Abuse

  • Cynthia, Kirem

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    Please don't eat those cute frogs.. They are very much required for our nature. There are plenty of things to eat.. Please leave the frogs.. Instead of eating them, do fasting for one time. Good for health.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [42] Reply Report Abuse

  • Chatty Shetty, mangalore

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    This is going to happen if ban is put on beef..in future even the dogs, cats will disappear

    DisAgree [10] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jhanavi, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    There uis no ban in eating beef... but illegal meet stalls and illegal trafficking is banned... plz understand.... i prefer every illegal things to be banned.... killing cow, pig, dog, goat, sheep or any living being should be stopped or should be limited.....

    DisAgree [3] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • SP Shetty, Dubai/Kateel

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    India, Hindustan, Bharat or Ancient India Call it whatever you want has survived for Centuries without eating Beef brother, Chance pe Dance Marna Band Karo.

    DisAgree Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • SAMAD, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    Ancient pandits told they used to consume beef.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • J L Mangalore, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    How ancient are you again...?

    DisAgree Agree [6] Report Abuse

  • Roshan Braganza, Mumbai

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    There must be stringent law against this , if they want frogs to eat they can cultivate in farms . But killing natural habitat frogs is just illegal

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    Now we know why rains have Disappeared ...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shankar, Mangaluru

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    Mr. Einstein,
    Please enlighten us how frogs are related to rains.
    You mean conducting marriage of two frogs gets rain??

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • SUNNY DSOUZA, MARNIMIKATTE MANGALORE

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    Achee Din
    No jobs, what To do have to take care of family
    Beef Ban

    DisAgree [8] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • abdulla, india

    Thu, Jun 27 2019

    Can the indian Frog cultursits like the Shrimp / Aqua culture/ pisci culture..
    Breed Frogs:
    RANA Tigrina and Rana Hexaductila in captivity like in China..
    with help of Israelis we can breed and multiply in millions for table use.
    Frog Farming...
    CMFRI should take this initiative ..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Karwar: Rare frogs caught, sold in Goa as 'jumping chicken' delicacies



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