Officials reported that a woman was apprehended while attempting to illicitly transport 130 poisonous dart frogs out of the country.
The incident took place at El Dorado International Airport, where the woman was en route to São Paulo, Brazil, via Panama, according to a news release from Colombia’s environment ministry.
Upon inspecting her luggage, authorities discovered the poisonous frogs concealed within film canisters.
Bogota Police Commander Juan Carlos Arevalo remarked that this endangered species holds appeal in international markets, noting that private collectors could potentially offer up to $1,000 for each specimen.
Woman Claims Gift as Authorities Uncover Distressed Frogs
The discovered frogs, identified as dehydrated and distressed, originated from Nariño, a state in western Colombia.
The woman contended that the frogs were a gift from a local community, as stated by Adriana Soto, the secretary of the environment, in the news release.
Legal proceedings will be initiated against the woman for the illegal utilization of natural resources, carrying potential penalties ranging from 5 to 12 months of imprisonment and fines up to 56 billion pesos (approximately $14.2 million).
Referred to as “the jewels of the rainforest” by the San Diego Zoo, these endangered diminutive frogs are indigenous to Central and South American rainforests.
They exhibit a variety of color combinations such as red and black, yellow and green, orange and silver, blue and yellow, green and black, and pink and silver.
Their vibrant hues serve as a warning to predators due to their toxic skin, with ingestion leading to swelling, muscle paralysis, and even fatality.
Named poison dart frogs, the Chocó people in western Colombia traditionally use their poison to coat blow dart tips for hunting, capable of lethally affecting birds and small mammals with just a tiny drop, as noted by the San Diego Zoo.