Lima, Peru: Peru is investigating what killed some 10,000 Titicaca water frogs, a critically endangered species affectionately known as the "scrotum frog," in a river that is feared to be polluted, authorities said Monday.
Hundreds of the large, wrinkly green frogs have been found floating on the surface of the Coata river in southern Peru in recent days, prompting the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (Serfor) to launch an investigation.
"Based on local residents' statements and samples taken in the days after the incident, it is believed that more than 10,000 frogs were affected over about 50 kilometers (30 miles)," Serfor said in a statement.
The alert was sounded by an environmental group called the Committee Against the Pollution of the Coata River, which accused the authorities of ignoring the river's severe pollution.
To protest, its supporters brought 100 of the dead frogs to the central square in the regional capital, Puno.
Protest leader Maruja Inquilla urged the authorities to take the dead frogs as a wake-up call.
"I've had to bring them the dead frogs. The authorities don't realize how we're living. They have no idea how major the pollution is. The situation is maddening," said Inquilla.
"Why is the state so apathetic? We need a sewage treatment plant now."
The frogs live only in Lake Titicaca, South America's largest lake, and its tributaries.
Known officially as Telmatobius culeus, they got their nickname from their many folds of skin, which help them breathe in their high-altitude habitat in the Andes mountains.
The species is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which says the population is estimated to have declined by 80 per cent in the past 15 years.
Hundreds of the large, wrinkly green frogs have been found floating on the surface of the Coata river in southern Peru in recent days, prompting the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (Serfor) to launch an investigation.
"Based on local residents' statements and samples taken in the days after the incident, it is believed that more than 10,000 frogs were affected over about 50 kilometers (30 miles)," Serfor said in a statement.
To protest, its supporters brought 100 of the dead frogs to the central square in the regional capital, Puno.
Advertisement
"I've had to bring them the dead frogs. The authorities don't realize how we're living. They have no idea how major the pollution is. The situation is maddening," said Inquilla.
Advertisement
The frogs live only in Lake Titicaca, South America's largest lake, and its tributaries.
Advertisement
The species is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which says the population is estimated to have declined by 80 per cent in the past 15 years.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Viral Video Claims 10 Days Were Missing In October 1582. Here's The Truth 10 Killed In Rain-Related Incidents In Uttar Pradesh In 24 Hours 26 Dead In Peru After Bus Plummets Into Ravine Over 300 Indian Students Return Home As 105 Bangladeshis Die In Protests "Jindal Group Executive Showed Porn, Groped Me On Flight": Woman To NDTV Bangladesh Imposes Curfew, Deploys Military As 105 Die In Protests India Hints At Roles Of Pakistan, China That Could Undermine Shanghai Bloc Deadly Viper On The Rise: Bangladesh Grapples With Snake Crisis SBI Recruitment 2024: Registration Begins For 1,040 SCO Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.