A coqui is a small frog native to Puerto Rico. When translated, coqui means little frog in Spanish. In Puerto Rico, the coqui is like a national symbol. The Puerto Ricans love their little friends, and when they are away from the island they miss the little frogs. The coqui image is seen everywhere in Puerto Rico. Pretty much any souvenir from Puerto Rico will have the little mascot on it.
Coquis are famous for their singing. Their singing is a beautiful sound that can not be forgotten. Once the sun goes down the coquis begin to serenade the island. They sing all night long until the sun begins to rise. The noise the coquis make when they sing sounds like “ko kee”, which is how the coqui came to be called the coqui. The coquis can be heard all over the island; in the rainforest, in big cities, and in rural areas. Coquis are most likely to come out and sing when it is darker. So, they are more prevalent in darker areas. The female coquis are larger than the males, however only the male coquis sing. So, that means that the loud singing heard on the island is created by about half of the coquis there.
There are actually sixteen different species of the coqui that live in Puerto Rico. Eleven of the species can only be found in Puerto Rico. Coquis are also native to other parts of the Caribbean as well as Central America and South America. Today, coquis can also be found in Hawaii. But, how did they end up from Puerto Rico to Hawaii? That would be a pretty long swim for such a little frog.
It is believed that the coqui made it to Hawaii completely by accident. During a shipment of, possibly plants, from Puerto Rico to Hawaii the coquis somehow got into the shipment. Today, the coquis can be heard in Hawaii almost as prevalent as in Puerto Rico. The difference is that, while the Puerto Ricans love the sound of the coquis, many Hawaiians do not like them. In fact, many hate the little frog and wish to exterminate them. Many people find it difficult to sleep with this sound that annoys them.
While some Hawaiians have grown accustomed to the sound, most have not. So, the USDA Wildlife Services has come up with a plan to eradicate the little frogs in Hawaii. Many people, especially Puerto Ricans, are outraged over the killing of the Puerto Rican mascot. Some people have tried to deliberately carry the little frogs out of Puerto Rico. Because of this, it is now a felony to transport coquis.
Because of the efforts to exterminate the coquis the environment is now in trouble. One method of getting rid of the frogs is through caffeine. The caffeine, which is much much stronger than the caffeine found in a soft drink or coffee, is dispersed throughout the land and water. Supposedly, when a coqui comes into contact with such a high dose of caffeine it will give them a heart attack. This is a terrible way for the frog to die. However, the caffeine being spread throughout Hawaii also has implications for people. People already consume large amounts of caffeine in their everyday diets. By coming into contact with even more, it could become toxic.
Luckily for the coquis, a program has been put into place to save the little creature. It is the Frog Repatriation and Overseas Gifting (F.R.O.G.). With this program, coquis in Hawaii can be brought back to their native homes; Puerto Rico and other Caribbean areas, as well as Central and South America. This plan is much more popular among animal rights activists, as well as the coquis themselves.
Over time, Hawaiians may become fond of the beautiful singing of the little frog. Coquis may take some getting used to, however those who have grown accustomed to the singing can testify to the beautiful songs the little frogs create. Hopefully, one day everyone will get the opportunity to hear the coquis in their native land and recognize how charming their songs really are.
