Important Frogs Declining in Gerea

By LESLEY SANGA

I grew up in Gerea, a land located in the interior part of West Kwara’ae in the Malaita province. In Gerea, obtaining fish for food has always been a challenge.

During my childhood, we used to venture into the bush to hunt for edible frogs like Ufu ufu, Gore Kafo, and others, including Otafao. Catching them was relatively easy because there were numerous helicon plants, and the frogs loved to reside on their leaves.

In 2021, I revisited the place and noticed significant changes. Curious about the frog population, I approached my uncle, James Lakwafi, and inquired about their current status. He informed me that people were now afraid to catch the frogs.

Mr. Lakwafi explained that one of the reasons for this decline was the diminishing presence of helicon plants, which the frogs relied on for shelter. As a result, the frogs were becoming increasingly scarce, making them harder to find during hunting expeditions.

Additionally, he mentioned another contributing factor: the logging activities that had taken place in Gerea land several years ago. According to Mr. Lakwafi, these activities had negatively impacted the frog population.

The situation deeply saddened the community since frogs were their primary source of protein. Unlike those living in coastal areas with access to fish, we in Gerea rely heavily on frogs as a dietary staple.