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DEBATE: Why murder frogs?
“Mommy?” asked the baby frog.
“Where is dad?”
Mom’s eyes welled up with tears
“Son, he is dead”
Go on ... mock me. I am used to it anyway but right now, I am desperate to voice my opinion about dissecting frogs. I am a pre-medical student and at the same time I am an animal rights activist. I know it sounds stupid but believe me, it matters a lot to me. I’ve always discouraged tormenting animals, then how can anyone expect me to do this? I know I have to do it, but do I really have to? I mean, isn’t it like encouraging students to deal roughly with already roughly dealt animals? I cannot even think of tearing open a live frog! I am not afraid of frogs. They don’t make me sick either. I have touched them several times. I just don’t have the heart to slit one!
Millions of frogs are mutilated every year in Karachi alone, by students. If this practice is carried on with the same rate then I am afraid, frogs will also enter the list of endangered species. Okay fine, I know it is done for some educational purpose (Lord knows what!) but the problem is that it is done excessively. Five frogs for each student and there are zillions of students out there. There should be one frog for every five students (read ‘ten students). Dissecting frogs is a destructive activity. Of course, it’s true that we gain first hand experience but we can do just as good without it and not to mention the alternatives.
You must be wondering why I chose biology when I knew that I was going to face all of this? Well, I love nature. I love animals. I really wish to become a wildlife (make that ‘animal life’) conservationist like Mike Fay. And hey, if biology sweeps me off my feet then math makes me sick to the point of vomiting!
God knows how angry and frustrated I am right now. I am supposed to kill five poor frogs one by one. Don’t get surprised if you a see a girl coming out of the Zoology lab running like crazy, and at the same time, pulling her hair like hell. It could very well be me. Or perhaps you’ll see me on the streets with banners someday. After all, I am an active member of AHRT (Animals Have Rights Too) and I was one of the founding members of NH Nature Club at school and saved several wall lizards!
Fine, I know some of you want me to shut my mouth (my friends call it a little ‘hell-hole’). I never actually open my mouth but when I do, it becomes impossible to shut it and it should be of no concern to you whether the same applies to my eating habits.
Dear me! When I grow up I’ll coerce the government to put a ban on dissecting frogs. You would never know if you were dissecting a disfigured prince.
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