Focus on Arts and Ecology

An iconic forest frog known for its hunting ability is falling prey to poachers, CCTV News reports. Reporters found that large numbers of Chinese brown frogs, which live in the forests of Heilongjiang province in the north-east, are being trapped by local poachers. Although not endangered, the frog has a unique place in the already threatened ecosystem of northeastern China, which is home to rare species such as the Siberian tiger and Amur leopard. Poachers put up fences as high as one metre on the migration path of the frogs, forcing them into deep pits dug nearby. A 2008 provincial law made this practice illegal. The brown frog is believed by Chinese people to be highly nutritious.