JEJU, April 6 (Korea Bizwire) — Narrow-mouth frogs and other amphibians native to the Geum Oreum volcanic cone on Jeju Island, famous for the wetlands inside its crater, are struggling for survival.
As stone-stacking is gaining popularity among tourists, visitors to the region are moving stones away from the crater, depriving the amphibians of shade.
Geum Oreum has recently been gaining popularity as a photo zone, attracting flocks of visitors.
For amphibians that live in the mostly barren Geum Oreum crater, volcanic stones are the only place where they can escape the sunlight.
Staying in the shade is important for amphibians to breathe properly through their skin. Breathing becomes a struggle, however, if visitors take away the stones.
Image Credit: Yonhap / Korea Federation for Environmental Movements / photonews@koreabizwire.com
