NO NEED FOR FROG FRIGHT

Thousands of tadpoles or “baby frogs” that were captured in a viral video in floodwaters in Manchester are “not cause for concern”, the country’s environment regulator has indicated.

The social media video showed a large pool of water littered with “millions” of tadpoles, says the person recording it.

“Millions, millions of baby frogs down in Content. They are migrating to all angles of this water,” he continued.

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) acknowledged, in an email response to questions submitted by The Gleaner, that it was aware of the video.

The environment regulatory authority said the video was likely recorded after “a spawning event of cane toads” evidenced by the “numerous tiny tadpoles”.

Species that reproduce in large numbers also experience high mortality rates, according to NEPA.

“Only a small fraction of these tadpoles will survive to become froglets and an even smaller number will reach adulthood.”

NEPA noted that excess standing water provides suitable conditions for cane toads to lay eggs in areas that may appear unconventional to the public.

“This situation is not unusual and is not cause for concern,” it said.

Several homes in Content have been inundated by groundwater since the passage of Hurricane Melissa, the Category 5 system that made landfall in Jamaica last month. The rising water levels have been attributed to the significant rainfall experienced before and during the storm.

A single adult female cane toad can lay thousands of eggs in one brood, NEPA noted, saying the number of tadpoles seen in the video “likely resulted from spawning by only a few females”.

“This is a normal and regular occurrence, particularly in drains, stagnant water bodies and temporary pools formed after heavy rainfall and flooding, such as that experienced during the passage of Hurricane Melissa,” NEPA said.

NEPA said while there are no perceived negative impacts, the public can help to reduce such occurrences by removing standing water around homes and within communities, advocating for the clearing of drains and filling shallow stagnant water with soil.

“These actions not only limit breeding opportunities for cane toads but also serve as important mosquito vector control measures, helping to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases,” NEPA said.

After rising for several days, the Water Resources Authority (WRA) this week said the groundwater levels in Content, which caused flooding in the community, are now slowly receding.

“The water appears to be slowly declining – not quickly, but a gradual decline seems to be happening right now,” noted WRA Deputy Managing Director Geoffrey Marshall.

Based on current data and comparisons with previous events, Marshall indicated that the recession of water in Content “may take approximately four weeks”.

He said, however, that groundwater movement in Content was contributing to rising levels in downstream communities as anticipated.

“We’re seeing rising water [levels] in Porus and Harmons, Manchester, which was expected, because as the groundwater flows underground from Content going down we expected the water to rise in [the neighbouring] regions,” he stated.

Marshall also noted similar cass of riisng water in Comfort Hall and Evergreen.

The WRA has urged residents to exercise caution as groundwater levels continue to shift and to take immediate action should their property become threatened.

He further urged them not to consume water seeping from the ground in certain areas, explaining that such water is likely contaminated. He emphasised that any water intended for consumption must be properly treated.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com