Over a year ago we were invited by Animal Aid to support their campaign against the sale of:

Frogs' legs, The 'delicacy' with the flavour of cruelty

In details described as a small victory Jean Pink outlined how the pressure of Animal Aid members had resulted in the announcement from Safeways (U.K.) that owing to the terrible cruelty Animal Aid had exposed they would be withdrawing frogs' legs from their chain of stores.

In fact it was a major and important victory indeed as it meant that no major supermarket would again associate itself with this "delicacy".

On extending congratulations to Animal Aid I replied that NZAVS hadn't the resources to take on all the issues exposed in the sickening exploitation of non-humans for human profit. I also expressed reservations that frogs' legs were on sale in New Zealand... promising to look into the vile business.

Background

India kills 70-100 million frogs per year. They are hunted at plantations, stuffed into sacks and often travel long distances to purpose-built factories. There, they are killed by having their legs cut off at the waist whilst fully conscious. The rest of the body is discarded, thrown onto a heap and left to die. The trade is on the increase in Bangladesh. Major importers claim that the frogs are anaesthetised before slaughter - however investigations proved this to be untrue... that the so-called anaesthetic was nothing more than salt solution into which the frogs are dipped to kill bacteria.

Hunting of frogs is causing an increase in the insect population and causing serious malaria. The cost of vast quantities of imported pesticides to deal with the insects outweighs the revenue from frogs' legs exports!

NZAVS was horrified to find that even a cursory glance reveals a rife trade in New Zealand as frogs' legs imported mainly from Japan are displayed on the menus of numerous restaurants, on sale at supermarkets and delicatessens... even Woolworths!

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