Puerto Rican coquí frogs are loud. Islanders want to keep it that way.
For many Puerto Ricans, the nightly chirping of 'coh-KEE' — the sound of a tiny frog known as the coquí — is like a national lullaby.
But for one purported tourist, the noise felt more like a nightmare, according to a now-deleted Reddit post from May on the Puerto Rico Travel thread.
The post, titled 'Spray to keep the noisy frogs quiet?' alarmed residents and lovers of the amphibian. In the last month, dozens have voiced their concerns across social media about their fears that visitors to the island appear to want to silence the creature.
On TikTok, videos pleading to leave the coquís alone have millions of views. Some users have urged people not to come to Puerto Rico if they don't like the sound of the coquÍs. Others have joined in the chorus of voices calling on people to protect coquís from possible harm.
Alejandro Ríos-Franceschi, an associate professor of ecology, biodiversity and evolution at the University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus, said that before the social media post, he had never heard of people in Puerto Rico attempting to kill coquís. Puerto Rican environmental officials have not weighed in on the online uproar.
However, Ríos-Franceschi isn't surprised by the fears expressed by many locals and environmental enthusiasts online, given how beloved the frog is. On the island, many Puerto Ricans are taught from a young age to care for and appreciate them.
'The coquÍ is not noise — it's a living soundtrack of the Puerto Rican identity,' Ríos-Franceschi said.
There are 17 species of coquís, most of which are endemic to Puerto Rico, according to Ríos-Franceschi. The creatures are tiny, muddy and brown. Males are known for making 'co' sounds to dissuade other males, while the 'qui' sound is meant to attract females.
As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico is subject to the rules and laws of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, which means anyone who harms a coquÍ could face serious legal trouble. As of 2017, some coquÍs were listed as endangered. But the common coquÍ, which makes the iconic sound, are not endangered.
The frog is also an invasive species in Hawaii, Ríos-Franceschi said. In 2003, The Associated Press reported that state and federal officials were trying to eradicate the Oahu coquÍ frog population, citing the need to control them.
The superstar rapper and singer Bad Bunny, who is from Puerto Rico, has even posted about the creature. Last week, he appeared to allude to the ongoing discussion about them by sharing an Instagram story featuring their croaking in the background of a clipped version of his song 'Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii,' which translates to 'What Happened to Hawaii.'
Ríos-Franceschi, who is also a research director for the nonprofit conservation group Proyecto Coqui, said if tourists are actually coming to Puerto Rico and trying to spray the coquí with chemicals, it could enter the groundwater and spread to other creatures, possibly disrupting the entire ecosystem of the island.
To Puerto Ricans, the sound of the frogs, Ríos-Franceschi said, is "melody for our ears, but I can understand that for tourists that are not used to it, it can be bothering.'
'But that doesn't mean that when tourists come here, they have the right to kill them just because they're annoying.'
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
39 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Senior Rescue Dog Who 'Lived Outside For 15 years' Making Up For Lost Time
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. A rescue dog who has spent almost all of her life living outdoors is finally getting to experience some much-deserved home comforts. Veronica Pflueger, a development director at Hope Animal Rescue, a non-profit in North Carolina, shared footage to her Instagram, @wethreepitties, showing the moment she found 17-year-old rescue dog Sheba enjoying a nap on her bed. It's well-earned to say the least. "Sheba was surrendered to a local county animal in May of 2023 after her previous owner unfortunately lost his housing and couldn't take her with him," Pflueger told Newsweek. "She was 15 at the time and had spent her entire life living outside prior to being surrendered. The first half of her life was spent on a chain. Then another local non-profit provided and built a metal run and enclosure for her outside so she would at least be unchained." Sheba has fully converted to becoming an inside dog who loves nothing more than napping. Sheba has fully converted to becoming an inside dog who loves nothing more than napping. wetheepitties/instagram Pflueger first met Sheba after the local shelter reached out to Hope Animal Rescue for help. "Given Sheba's age at the time she was surrendered and the condition she was in—she had skin issues, oral issues, and was heartworm positive—she was an urgent placement need for the shelter so they reached out to see if we had a foster home available," she said. Pflueger has been fostering dogs for a decade but had never taken on a senior dog before. She found herself drawn to helping Sheba though. "For whatever reason I couldn't get her out of my head and no one else or any other rescues were willing to take her so we said yes," Pflueger said. Having initially agreed to foster Sheba, within months Pflueger had decided to adopt. They recently celebrated two happy years together with Sheba, now 17, transformed from a struggling senior shelter dog to an "indoor couch queen that enjoys the finer things in life." Those finer things include frequent naps, regular snuggles with one of Pflueger's other dogs and being petted by her husband. "I think she might be in love with him," Pflueger said. Sheba also helps look after any of the new fosters that arrive in the house. Read more Most popular dog breeds with Gen Z, X, millennials and baby boomers Most popular dog breeds with Gen Z, X, millennials and baby boomers "Sheba is in retirement," Pflueger said. "She had never had a comfy dog bed before, let alone a couch or human bed to sleep on. Once we introduced her to these comfy spots, she decided that's where she was always meant to be and we'd often find her jumping up on the couch or choosing to wander down to our bedroom for an afternoon nap in our bed." Pflueger shared heartwarming footage to her @wethreepitties Instagram showing Sheba making up for lost time with a nap on his mom's bed. On the clip, which has been viewed 2 million times since being shared in February, Pflueger can be seen going over to pet her pooch companion and, for a brief moment, it looks as if Sheba is smiling. "There is honestly nothing better than seeing a dog who lived outside for 15 years sleep peacefully on a comfy, cozy bed," she said. "It may seem like an insignificant thing for lots of other dogs, but for her those moments are everything because she quite literally never had that before." Sheba might have lived much of her life as an "outdoor dog" but most experts agree there is no such thing. As Rob Halpin from Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals explained to The Dodo: "Keeping pet dogs outside consigns them to a life of loneliness and frustration. "Dogs are highly social animals whose ancestors and cousins—the wolves—live in packs. Wolves hunt together, sleep together and play together," he said. "Dogs don't have packs. They only have us. Depriving dogs of human companionship by forcing them to live outside blunts their natural desires and is its own form of animal cruelty." The thought of Sheba spending all that time outside is difficult for Pflueger to contemplate. "It honestly breaks my heart to think that she spent 15 whole years sleeping on the ground or in a plastic igloo... especially given how much she LOVES all of the comfiest spots in our home," she said. Thankfully, that's all in the past now. "When we took her in, we vowed to make sure she was comfy and cozy and in a peaceful and warm environment for the rest of her life," she said. It's a promise Pflueger has certainly delivered on.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Woman Gets Dog Instead of Baby To Avoid Tantrums—Doesn't Go As Planned
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman's attempt to avoid having to deal with temper tantrums failed miserably when she chose to adopt a dog who proved to be just as demanding as a human child, if not worse. In a viral TikTok video shared on Friday under the username @calei_calei, the Jersey City dog owner writes: "Getting a dog instead of a human baby to avoid a temper tantrums." In the footage, she cuddles her German shepherd, Rusty. The following shot, however, shows the pup sitting at the back of the car, howling at his owner nonstop, until she gets him what he wants. "My dog every time we pull into Starbucks because he expects a pup cup," the owner continues. "I should have known a German shepherd always brings the drama," the caption adds. Pets can experience temper tantrums just like humans, and while they generally are physically not harmful, they can be emotionally overwhelming for both. Dogs often display frustration when forced to do things they are not up to. Common signs that your pup is having a tantrum include refusing to follow commands, excessive barking, growling, and destructive behaviors such as chewing. The best way to manage pet tantrums, according to Netmeds, is to allow the episode to run its course. This can help you determine if this behavior is just attention-seeking. Using familiar commands like "sit" or "settle" can help snap an animal out of an emotional episode. Remaining calm is key, as pets pick up on our emotions and react accordingly. Stock image: A German shepherd sits in the front of a car with its owner. Stock image: A German shepherd sits in the front of a car with its owner. getty images The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 176,000 views and more than 37,000 likes on the platform. One user, OdinTheMalinois, commented: "Picked the worst dog if you didn't want tantrums haha. I learned from a young age that my Shepard gets no pup cups or he will bark at the employees til he gets one. Now he has stopped since he knows he gets no more haha." Lisa Y posted: "You got the wrong breed if you were trying to avoid tantrums. Mine throws a full on hiss fit if she can't get past her brother to go into a room." Bee added: "Ummm I can honestly say my dog has more temper tantrums than any child I've ever met." Newsweek reached out to @calei_calei for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Buzz Feed
5 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
26 Products To Make Cleaning So Easy You *Almost* Won't Mind Doing It Anymore
Bioclean, a hard water stain remover for everyone who is just tired of trying to clean those cloudy glass shower doors, spot-covered fixtures, tile and grout, and more. It even works on pools! If you're not convinced, just hear from one reviewer: "Step one: Look at the pictures. Step two: Buy a lifetime supply immediately." A TikTok-approved, compact Levoit air purifier with a true HEPA filter because dust, pollen, and pet dander can get you DOWN (and sneezy) — and make it look like you haven't cleaned in ages, when you totally dusted yesterday. This'll suck so much out of the air, you just might find yourself dusting less often! And it can help your home smell fresher, too. A sink cleaner and polish formulated to use on stainless steel AND porcelain sinks (plus cast iron, corian, acrylic, and more) to restore that just-like-new shine *and* protect against further damage. It creates a water-repellant barrier, so instead of your morning coffee, lunchtime soup, and evening pasta sauce just sitting in the bottom of the sink, it'll actually rinse clean with ease. A fume-free oven cleaner you can spray on, leave for a minute, and then wipe away for an oven so clean, you'll think it was swapped out for a new model overnight. Time to reward yourself after all this cleaning with a cake. A Clorox toilet wand with disposable scrubby heads *preloaded* with cleaner so you can clean the whole bowl with one hand — and *one* product. A vacuum cleaner designed just for your car, because your ride deserves to be as crumb-free as your home. This lil' guy plugs into your 12V outlets and sucks up all of the dirt, dead leaf particles, McDonalds french fry salt, and all the other detritus accumulating on the floors and seats — it has three attachments for detailing in alllll the nooks and crannies. Dawn Powerwash, a borderline magical spray-on dish soap that BLASTS through tough grease and baked-on messes with ease. But it's not just for dishes — if you have a greasy range hood or backsplash, or you want to deep clean your cooktop or grill, this is *perfect* for that too, cutting through the toughest messes! The TikTok-famous Bissell Little Green carpet and upholstery cleaner that sprays on water and stain-fighting cleaner, then sucks it away to blast away years' of mess — on carpet *and* furniture. Reviewers love it for banishing pet stains, spills, and more — without having to waste a lot of their valuable storage space. The Chom Chom, because it's every pet-owning neat freak's dream that shedding exist. And this genius roller is the closest we can possibly get to that dream. It has a patented brush design (and *no* adhesive strips) to rid your lovely black sofa of all your furry friend's shedding in just a quick roll! A Furemover rubber broom that, despite the name, isn't just for those with shedding pets (although it's great for that) — as one of my BuzzFeed shopping colleagues knows first hand, it's also great at getting *human* hair out of carpet in just a few quick sweeps (once you realize how much hair is trapped never be able to un-know it). You'll be surprised how much more vibrant and clean-looking your carpets and rugs will be! The Pink Stuff, a TikTok- (and reviewer-) beloved cleaning product that miracles! Name your mess, and this mildly abrasive paste will take care of business — including but not limited to bathroom tiles, sinks, stove tops, painted walls, grills, and outdoor furniture. A 🙌 no-scrub, no-wipe 🙌 Wet & Forget cleaner if you love having a clean don't actually enjoy the cleaning process itself. Now you can keep your shower clean and mildew-free by spraying just *once a week*. And it's bleach-free, so no harsh smells! The Baseboard Buddy, an As-Seen-On-TV gadget that'll come through for you if you're TIRED of all the dust that accumulates on your trim and baseboard every. single. day. This guy is lightweight and has an extendable telescoping handle and 360° swivel so you can wipe surfaces clean with the contoured microfiber head *without* having to bend over or get down on your hands and knees, so you can get your heavy-duty cleaning done AND make regular dusting touchups easier too. A plant-based stainless steel cleaner to remove streaks, marks, residue, and fingerprints from all of your appliances with *one* wipe of the included microfiber cloth. And it helps keep fingerprints and smudges away — reviewers say the shine lasts for days! A Cerama-Bryte cooktop cleaning kit, which includes cooktop cleaning solution, a scrubbing pad, and a scraper so you can absolutely remove every bit of baked- and caked-on food from any smooth range — no matter how long it's been there and what other cleaning products and DIY solutions you've tried in the past. A Bissell CleanView bagless vacuum designed with a specialized brush roll for picking up embedded pet (and human) hair, powerful suction on carpet and hard floors, and an easy-empty tank so you don't have to (gag) touch all of that icky stuff. Or a Roomba robot vacuum that'll do the work *for* you, navigating around your home, picking up dirt, dust, crumbs, and pet hair so you can sit back and relax — and it even works with Alexa and Google Assistant so you can control it with your voice! Btw, compared to the older 600 series, this Roomba has 18x the suction, 33% more battery life, and map reports so you can see where Roomba cleaned! An automatic makeup brush cleaner with a textured silicone bowl to really get those foundation- and eyeshadow-caked brushes cleaner than ever — without a lot of elbow grease on your part. Just squirt in some makeup brush shampoo (I recommend the EcoTools one!) and water, plug 'er in, press the button, and away the bowl spins, scrubbing your brushes clean while you simply hold them in place! A three-part microfiber wand so you can dust your blinds, air-conditioner vent, and any of those other narrow, hard-to-reach areas quicker and easier than ever before. When you're done, just take the covers off and pop 'em right in the washing machine! A set of three scrubbing attachments for serious cleaning jobs on your to-do list — you can simply add an attachment to any power drill to make cleaning your tub, floor, appliances, or even the wheels of your car ridiculously fast and easy. A mold & mildew removing gel, because you don't need to get your whole shower redone once this is in your life. Just squeeze out and let this non-drip gel work its magic overnight — NO s c r u b b i n g. A deep-cleaning brush duo with a powerful scrubbing head for banishing grout discoloration with ease and a wiping blade to reach the crevices, crannies, and nooks that never get haven't at least since your last deep clean. A Iron Out rust stain remover you can use on interior *and* exterior stains from the bathroom to the concrete walkways outside, so you can make over your indoor and outdoor space. The formula clings to the stain — you don't even need to scrub! Microfiber cleaning cloths that'll become your best friends when it comes to *streak-free* cleaning — use them on your car, stainless steel, countertops, wood furniture, floors (reusable Swiffer sweepers, anyone?), metal fixtures, and wayyy more. You'll get a better clean and waste fewer paper towels and disposable wipes — you can put that extra money towards exciting plans. A Hoover PowerDash carpet-cleaning machine designed with pets in mind (but great for any household messes) that'll save you so much money on cleaning services in the long run. It can pick up deep-set stains, uses heat to ensure your carpets actually *dry* quickly, and is surprisingly compact and lightweight too! And a carpet cleaning and deodorizing solution you can use with a steam cleaner for a ridiculous level of deep clean. Not only does it knock out stains, but it's also biodegradable and nontoxic (and scented with essential oils). Puracy's all-in-one cleaning concentrate you can dilute and use on just about everything — floors, countertops, dishes, windows, laundry, and more — so you don't have to keep swapping out bottles in your linen closet.
