Namibia's Illegal Frog Trade: Harvested by Law, Ignored by State

A secretive harvest of frogs is happening in Namibia. It operates despite being illegal and without any government oversight. The trade targets a remarkable diversity of amphibian species. These animals are uniquely adapted to survive in Namibia's harsh, dry climate. Current conservation laws protect most native wildlife. However, they do not list specific frog species. This legal gap makes their collection illegal in general but overlooked in practice. Officials admit they do not monitor the trade. There are no records of how many frogs are taken, or what impact this has on their populations. Without this data, experts warn the silent harvest could threaten species survival. The full scale of the problem remains unknown.