Chinese takeaway frogs

©Audrey Snider-Bell via 123RF

Inside were 80 African bullfrogs - 10 of which were dead - and 150 rare rain frogs, all allegedly captured in Limpopo.

Their destination was Taiwan, where some were to be sold as pets and others into the exotic food market. The discovery, say officials from the Pretoria Zoo where the amphibians are being kept, point to signs that the poaching of rare and unique indigenous South African amphibians are spiking. The frogs will remain at the zoo until they are released into a sanctuary.

International syndicates have been targeting South Africa's reptile world for years, and have wiped out entire colonies of lizards.

Popular YouTube videos make "cute" animals a target

With increasing popular interest peaking, thanks to "cute" YouTube animal videos, poachers are turning their attention to easy targets, like the large, slow African bullfrog and slow breeding rain frogs. "That video showing a squeaking desert rain frog has increased the demand for such creatures dramatically. Pet shop owners in South Africa are reporting huge spikes in queries about exotic animals such as amphibians," said Prins.

He said the frogs - and others caught previously - would fetch hundreds of thousands of rands on the black market. "The bullfrogs were selling for £80 (about R1,863) each and the rain frogs for more than that."

Said zoo spokesman Chris de Beer: "This country's reptiles and amphibians are under serious threat from sophisticated syndicates using the knowledge of people in the areas where these frogs are found, to collect them."

Herpetology researcher, Professor Graham Alexander of Wits Zoology Department said reptile smuggling ranked third in the world, next to weapons and drug trafficking.

Source: The Times