Puerto Rico defends his iconic frog coquò from tourists (they want to silence it for his song)

In Puerto Rico there was a heated debate between tourists and local people. At the center of the question there is the Rana Coquísmall endemic amphibian of the island, whose pointed It has always accompanied the Caribbean evenings. Some tourists, however, have not widening his presence and indeed, disturbed by the continuous verse of the animal, asked for social media If there is a spray to “make it stop”.

The reaction of the Puerto Rooms as soon as the post has spread has been immediate: for them, the frog coquí is not a disorder, but a Cultural and identity symbol. The story exploded after a tourist published an ironic request on a local Facebook group (but not too much) to find a remedy against night verses. In a few minutes, the discussion collected hundreds of comments, most of which strongly defended presence and importance of the Coquí for the ecosystem and the culture of the place.

The information campaign to raise awareness of tourists

Many inhabitants recalled that the coquí frog is considered a national emblem: its name it derives from the verse that emits“Co-quí”, and is so rooted in daily life that it appears on gadgets, popular songs and even stamps. His song is part of the sound identity of the island, and represents for many a sign of home, belonging and continuity with his roots.

The episode rekindled the debate on an increasingly current theme in places with high tourist vocation: respect for traditions and local environment by visitors. If on the one hand tourism is fundamental for the Puerto Rican economy, on the other situations like this show how fragile the balance between welcome and mutual respect is.

In response to the controversy, some local activists have started a Information campaign to sensitize tourists On the importance of the coquí frog, explaining that his song is part of the island’s natural sound landscape. Not only that: Coquí is also considered an environmental indicator, since its presence is linked to the health of the ecosystem. After all, traveling is also: a Meeting between different cultures. And sometimes, to really appreciate a place, you have to know how to listen to what, at the beginning, it may seem only noise.