GERMAN ARRESTED IN COLOMBIA FOR SMUGGLING FROGS

Story Filed: Tuesday, April 04 2000 8:02 PM EST
Bogotá, Apr 04 2000
(EFE via COMTEX)

A German citizen was arrested by Colombian officials at Bogotá's International airport after he was caught attempting to smuggle 300 frogs to Germany, Bogotá's environmental office announced on Tuesday.

The man, who was going to board an Air France flight, had hidden the frogs in his luggage. The amphibians were seized by agents of Bogotá's Environmental Office (DAMA), in conjunction with airport police and the French airline.

The frogs belong to the Dendrobates histrionicus genus and were captured in the jungles of Chocó department, on Colombia's northwestern border with Panamá, a DAMA spokesman said. According to DAMA, the load of frogs is worth up to 900,000 dollars on international markets! The frogs, which are poisonous, are highly coveted by private collectors for their exotic colours and beauty. They live in humid tropical jungle regions with temperatures around 28˚ to 30˚C (about 86˚F), and generally eat insects such as flies and mosquitoes.

The frogs were taken to a wildlife reserve outside Bogotá while authorities wait to return them to their natural habitat.

The German citizen, who was not identified, was handed over to INTERPOL and will be tried for smuggling these animals.

Thanks to Carlos Cabrera for this item