The renowned French delicacy of cuisses de grenouille, commonly known as frogs’ legs, is posing a severe threat to the survival of certain frog species, according to a group of over 500 environmental campaigners who have addressed their concerns to French President Emmanuel Macron.
In an open letter written earlier this month and organized by French nonprofits Robin des Bois and Vétérinaires pour la Biodiversité (Veterinarians for Biodiversity), alongside German charity Pro Wildlife, the 557 signatories highlighted that the European Union imports approximately 4,070 tons of frozen frogs’ legs each year, equivalent to 80 to 200 million frogs, depending on the species’ size.
A collaborative study conducted by Robin des Bois and Pro Wildlife revealed that France alone consumes over 3,000 tons of frozen frogs’ legs annually. The majority of these frogs are sourced from wild populations in Indonesia, Turkey, and Albania, where certain frog species are experiencing significant declines. Vietnam also plays a notable role as an exporter of frogs’ legs, primarily through farming rather than capturing wild frogs, as stated in a media release accompanying the open letter.
The signatories of the letter, comprising researchers, nature conservationists, and veterinary professionals, urged France, being the largest consumer of frogs’ legs in the EU, to take responsibility for protecting frog species. The letter emphasized that common species such as the crab-eating frog and the rice-field frog are facing population declines due to extensive commercial harvesting and long-standing exports.
Although native frog populations within the EU benefit from protection against commercial exploitation under the Habitats Directive, the letter pointed out that this safeguard does not extend to species imported into the region. Sandra Altherr, Head of Science at Pro Wildlife, criticized this discrepancy, stating, “It’s absurd: the natural frog populations here in Europe are protected under EU law. But the EU still tolerates the collection of millions of animals in other countries – even if this threatens the frog populations there. This is not at all in line with the EU’s recent biodiversity strategy.”
Alain Moussu, President of Veterinarians for Biodiversity, expressed the involvement of veterinarians in this initiative due to their concerns about the cruelty prevalent in this market and the ecological imbalances caused by the decline of amphibian populations. One of these imbalances, Moussu suggested, is the potential increase in mosquito populations, which could have adverse effects on human health.
In light of the issue, the signatories called on France to develop proposals aimed at protecting declining frog species and ensuring that the trade in frogs’ legs is monitored, regulated, and conducted sustainably, in accordance with international trade rules.
Source: Adapted from CNN