Only 2 invasive species of frogs and snakes cost the world 16 billion USD in damage

American frogs and brown tree snakes cost the world an estimated $16 billion between 1986 and 2020, causing problems ranging from crop damage to power outages, according to a study published July 29.

American Frog at Jurong Frog Farm in Singapore

American frogs and brown tree snakes are considered invasive species, ie organisms introduced from another place into the native area and reproduce uncontrollably, posing a serious threat to native flora and fauna.

The study collects data by aggregating costs associated with these two invasive species in literature or studies that are rated as highly reliable, Reuters news agency said.

Still, the $16 billion figure comes mostly from estimates rather than empirical observations.

According to research published in the journal Scientific Reports, the brown and green American bullfrog, also known as the American bullfrog, can weigh more than 0.9kg, causing the greatest impact in Europe.

Researcher Ismael Soto at the University of South Bohemia (Czech Republic), who led the research, also said that brown tree snakes have proliferated in an uncontrolled way on the Pacific islands, including Guam and Guam. Marianna Islands.

According to Mr. Soto, the US military is believed to have brought the species to these locations during World War II. The snakes are sometimes so numerous that they crawl on electrical equipment and cause power outages.

The researcher from the Czech Republic emphasized the need for investment to control the movement of invasive species around the globe, helping to avoid the loss from dealing with the disaster.

"Today, the pet trade is the main route for these species (moving to new territory), especially now that everyone wants to get a rarest snake. We recommend constant updates. blacklist of banned species," Soto told Reuters.