A strange warning from a zoo .. “Do not lick this frog”

The Colorado National Park Service (US) has urged citizens and visitors to refrain from licking the Sonoran Desert Frog, also known as the Colorado River Frog.

And the service warned in a post on the Facebook platform that the amphibian creature is capable of causing great harm, because it "contains a strong toxic substance that can make people sick if they touch it or put poison in their mouths."

The publication added, "These frogs have prominent glands that secrete a strong poison that can cause poor health outcomes and may sometimes lead to death."  

The agency repeated its warning, hanging as well: "As we say with most things you come across in a national park, whether it's a banana slug, an unfamiliar mushroom, or a big frog with glowing eyes in the dead of night, please refrain from licking."

The agency warned that "licking or swallowing can lead to numbness in the mouth and throat as well as serious and life-threatening effects on the heart as a result of the digoxin-like compounds and catecholamines described above."

The warning comes for a good reason, of course. The habit of licking this animal is widespread, especially among teenagers, young adults, and addicts to hallucinogens.

And that's after it was revealed that the toxic secretions of the frog contain a powerful hallucinogen known as 5-MeO-DMT.

The substance is considered a Schedule 1 drug by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, which means it is not currently accepted for medical use and has a high potential for abuse.

In recent years, the popularity of consuming the secretions of these amphibians has increased, and many celebrities have even been famous for it, including the famous American boxer, Mike Tyson.

The Colorado River Frog, which is commonly found in parts of California, Arizona and New Mexico, is one of the tallest frogs in North America.

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