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Beijing intercepts live tree frogs from inbound parcels from the United States: declared as "coffee and tea"

Published: 2026-04-07 Author: World Gafei

Last Updated: 2026/04/07, Red-eyed tree frog (albino individual). Beijing, May 3 (Reporter Yu Lixiao) Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (referred to as Beijing National Inspection Bureau) issued a circular today saying that on April 26 this year, staff of the Postal Exhibition Office of Beijing National Inspection Bureau intercepted 8 live tree frogs from EMS parcels sent to Beijing by the United States. This is the first time that a live tree frog has been intercepted in China. This was identified.

Red-eyed tree frog (albino individual). Photo provided by Beijing State Inspection Bureau

Chinanews.com, May 3 (Reporter Yu Lixiao) the Beijing entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (hereinafter referred to as the Beijing State Quarantine Bureau) issued a notice today, saying that on April 26 this year, staff of the Postal Exhibition Office of the Beijing State Inspection Bureau intercepted eight live tree frogs from EMS parcels sent by the United States to Beijing. This is the first time that live tree frogs have been intercepted in China.

Eight living tree frogs intercepted this time were identified as three species: red-eyed tree frog (albino) (Agalychniscallidryas), tiger-legged monkey tree frog (Phyllomedusahypochondrialis) and white-bellied Reed frog (Heterixalusalboguttatus).

When the national inspection personnel of the Postal Exhibition Office used the "one machine, two screens" mode to inspect jointly with the Customs, they found that the image of a parcel was suspicious. The face sheet showed that the parcel was sent from the United States to Beijing and declared as "coffee and tea." through open-box inspection, it was found that there were three plastic boxes containing living frogs, aquatic plants and other plant bedding materials.

The state inspection personnel immediately intercepted the parcel and sent a "notice of interception of inspection and quarantine of incoming parcels" to the recipient, and immediately sent the intercepted live tree frog to the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences for professional species identification.

Tiger tattooed leg monkey tree frog. Photo provided by Beijing State Inspection Bureau

The data show that red-eyed tree frog and tiger-legged monkey tree frog belong to the rain frog family, white-bellied Reed frog belongs to the African tree frog family, and the three tree frogs are all LC species in the red list of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Among them, red-eyed tree frogs are mainly distributed in the tropical rain forests of Central America, ranging from Mexico to Colombia, while tiger-legged monkey tree frogs include Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Bolivia and other countries. White-bellied Reed frogs are mainly distributed in the southeast of Madagascar below 800m above sea level. They generally take flies, moths, grasshoppers, crickets and other small frogs and other insects and chordates as food. Because of their rich colors and high appreciation, they have become the new favorite of many out-of-favor players.

White-bellied Reed frog. Photo provided by Beijing State Inspection Bureau

The three kinds of frogs intercepted this time do not have any quarantine certificates and other documents, the sources and sanitary conditions are unknown, the quarantine risk is difficult to assess, and they may carry parasites or bacteria in their bodies. If they escape to the wild, it may pose a serious threat to the ecological security of native frogs in China, and even affect the health and safety of our people.

According to the announcement No. 1712 of the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Administration of quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, live animals are prohibited from mailing entry articles. The Postal Exhibition Office will continue to strengthen the inspection of such articles, constantly improve the blacklist system, and strictly crack down on illegal trade in wild animals and plants.

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