What to do if you find a frog in Fiji.
If you’re anything like me you’ll take a photograph.
It’s hard not to be captivated by these tiny hopping creatures that appear everywhere after it rains in Fiji, hopping gaily through puddles and splashing in the wet grass.
‘Oh look, there’s another!’
Some of them are no bigger than your little fingernail, and you only spot them in the wet grass when they suddenly leap out of the way.
‘Mind you don’t step on it!’
I had hours of fun trying to photograph them, especially after a downpour.
‘Excuse me, could you tell me what those are called?
‘Those?’
‘Yes, those cute little frogs.’
‘Those are called cane toads.’
Cane toads. Not so cute after all then.
Cane toads with their thick warty skin and poisonous glands were introduced to Australia to combat pests in the sugar cane industry, and now they’re unstoppable pests.
They were also sent to Fiji in the mid 1930s, and for some reason they’ve shrunk in size since then. They may not grow to the gigantic proportions of Aussie cane toads but they’re still venomous enough to kill a puppy.
There are now millions of them right across the islands.
So if you see a frog in Fiji it might be best to keep walking. You’ll soon find something more appealing to photograph, like these equally tiny parrot finches.
If all else fails, there’s always the weather.
7 comments on “What to do if you find a frog in Fiji.”
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I'm a writer based in Australia with a passion for gardening, remote places and people with a story to tell.
We will be keen to pick your brains about Fiji! Wondering about a family holiday there in July?? Glad I could read the post! Have a fantastic time you two.
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Thx Wendy, happy to share our experience, Fijian people are lovely but they and the islands were badly affected by last year’s cyclone. The coral reefs could take up to ten years to recover. Everyone putting a brave face on. Will call you when we get back x
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“Not so cute after all”… How often are species introduced to get rid of one pest only to become one themselves?
Enjoyable pictures, though!!
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You’re so right Dale, why do we meddle in nature so often? It invariably has long term adverse consequences that aren’t foreseen at the time.
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I think you have the title for a new children’s book! Reminded me of: “If You Give a Pig a Pancake.” One of my son’s favorites as a young boy:).
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Hah, immediately I want to know what happens if you give a pig a pancake!
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I won’t get into all the gory details but let’s just say it involves a dressed up pig tap dancing and a treehouse with sticky wallpaper :-).
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