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FROGS, especially tiger frogs and other rare frogs, face extinction because they are being caught illegally and sold to restaurants and markets, wild-animal experts said yesterday.
"We came out this summer to suburban areas to look for tiger frogs," said Pei Enle, director of the Wild Animal Protection Station.
"We found only two. In the past, although they were not in huge numbers, we could be sure to find some in every suburban district."
Pei said some senior experts are worried they will see the extinction of tiger frogs.
Half the wet markets and nearly all the restaurants checked last year in Jinshan District had frogs for sale.
Pei said about 80 million frogs are sold in local markets every year.
Last month, officials seized 4,967 kilograms of frogs and toads, a 46 percent rise from June last year.
Although the food trade is the main reason for the quick drop in the number of frogs, agriculture chemicals and changes to their habitat are others.
The station has asked other departments to co-operate.
"We can only give hunters an administrative penalty and seize their frogs, but don't have the right to fine them," Pei said. "As a result, hunters and sellers continue after we leave."
Frogs sell in markets for about 0.8 yuan each. Once cooked, they can be sold for about 1.5 yuan each.
Health experts have warned that a check in local markets found 80 percent of frogs carry parasites.
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