Dominica's national dish off the menu for a long time

Friday, February 6, 2004

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica's national dish, made from a large land frog called the mountain chicken, may be off the menu for a very long time because the amphibians face extinction, a forestry and wildlife official disclosed on Wednesday.

Forestry officer Arlington James said the Dominican government is moving towards legislation that would place a ''total ban'' on hunting of the frogs, also known by its French patois name crapaud, which are infected with Chytridiomycosis, a bacteria. 

''What we have done so far is to institute a ban, what government is going to do, and this will be made into law soon, is a total ban on the hunting of the crapaud, so unfortunately this is something we will not be able to enjoy for a very, very long time,'' he said.

James also disclosed that the sighting of dead frogs on the outskirts of the capital recently means the deadly disease is still prevalent here.

''The crapaud problem is continuing so far we have received one report of a dead crapaud being found in Elmshall so although there was a lull in reports coming in with regards to the sighting of dead crapauds we believe that the problem has not abated and is continuing'' he noted. 

Last year, the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division instituted a temporary ban on the hunting of the frogs which are considered a highly-prized delicacy by nationals and tourists. 

James added: ''The few frogs that are left we have to try and get help to re-populate the island, we will also have to look to ensure that the fungus is no longer with us, if that continues to hang around then any frog may just get infected.''

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