Controlled frog farming in Kivu (Democratic Republic of Congo) | Elevage contrôlé des grenouilles au Kivu (République démocratique du Congo)
2002
Munyuli Bin, M.T. ((Institut de l'Environnement, Bukavu (République Démocratique du Congo). Recherche Agronomique et Gestion des Ressources Naturelles pour le Développement Intégré))
Frogs are one of the wild animal species whose meat is eaten in Central Africa. Frog legs served in special restaurants are still obtained by gathering (hunting/poaching) in nature and such activity endangers wild populations. Controlled frog farming, which does not exist in the area, was initiated with Rana angolensis in Kivu (DR Congo). Live frogs were captured in their natural habitat, then reared during 13 months in specific land enclosure ponds. Feeding requirements were met with vermiculture and distribution of live and mobile preys. At harvest the following performances were gained: mean body weight of adult frog: 173 +/- 12.5 g, mean leg weight: 38 +/- 5.1 g, mean leg length: 16.8 +/- 3.2 cm, mean number of harvested adult frogs: 980 +/- 111, mean number of harvested young frogs: 3,316 +/- 278. The total biomass produced varied between 2.1 and 4.56 kg/m2. The net income which can be generated by this raniculture business activity reached 2,800 dollars/year/100 m2 pond. Based on these preliminary results, it is concluded that controlled and rational frog farming is possible, and is a potential source of supplementary income and animal proteins for human communities. It is suggested to sponsor applied research in central Africa, in order to develop raniculture
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