How mail-order frogs could save Colombia's amphibians - BBC News

His efforts to replace illegally captured frogs have made him famous among American collectors, who – in part thanks to Lozano – are increasingly seeking legally-traded, eco-friendly animals. Production of these Oophaga specimens by Tesoros has risen from 30 to 150 a year, but supply is still unable to meet demand.

Robert Zahradnik, a 37-year-old collector based in Colorado, believes legal breeding has forced many collectors to change their mindsets. "There is now peer pressure to buy sustainable frogs," he says. "Any posting of questionable frogs on social media is met with resistance [by the community] in the form of comments calling out the origins. Meanwhile, sustainable frogs from Tesoros are considered something to be proud of."

Parts of the conservation community, however, have been hesitant to fully endorse projects that seek to protect endangered animals through captive breeding. In the murky case of tiger farms across Asia, instead lowering prices and reducing demand for illegally collected animals, they spurred demand for both captive-bred and wild-caught animals. But in the case of Tesoros, the data appears to confirm Zahradnik's claims.

A significant proportion – and in some cases 100% – of important frog species imported to the US between 2014 and 2017 were legally-bred, according to a recent study. While those figures are limited, due to uncertainty over smuggling figures, the author believes it is a strong case for legally-bred wildlife. "This isn't the #MeToo of plants and animals, but there are serious issues that need to be discussed," says Justin Yeager, who wrote the report. "Biocommerce isn't perfect. You need regular buyers to stay financially sustainable, and that demands a 'collector' mentality. However, it's an opportunity to change the culture of consumption."