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#352562 - 04/28/05 10:37 AM
Here's Something Different
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Power Poster
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,726
the sandy shore
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More than 1,000 toads have puffed up and exploded in a Hamburg pond in recent weeks, and scientists still have no explanation for what's causing the combustion, an official said Wednesday.
Both the pond's water and body parts of the toads have been tested, but scientists have been unable to find a bacteria or virus that would cause the toads to swell up and pop, said Janne Kloepper, of the Hamburg-based Institute for Hygiene and the Environment.
"It's absolutely strange," she said. "We have a really unique story here in Hamburg. This phenomenon really doesn't seem to have appeared anywhere before."
The toads at a pond in the upscale neighborhood of Altona have been blowing up since the beginning of the month, filling up like balloons until their stomachs suddenly burst.
"It looks like a scene from a science-fiction movie," Werner Schmolnik, the head of a local environment group, told the Hamburger Abendblatt daily. "The bloated animals suffer for several minutes before they finally die."
Biologists have come up with several theories, but Kloepper said that most have been ruled out.
The pond's water quality is no better or worse than other bodies of water in Hamburg, the toads did not appear to have a disease, and a laboratory in Berlin has ruled out the possibility that it is a fungus that made its way from South America, she said.
She said that tests will continue. In the meantime, city residents have been warned to stay away from the pond.
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#352564 - 04/28/05 12:55 PM
Re: Here's Something Different
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Usually, when an ecosystem is contaminated, the frogs (and other amphibians) are the first to die. I forget why, something about the sensitivity of their skin. But exploding is a very BAD sign...
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#352566 - 04/28/05 01:52 PM
Re: Here's Something Different
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I read that on CNN's web site this morning. Must be some baaaaaaad water to not just kill the frogs, but make them explode!
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#352567 - 04/28/05 02:21 PM
Re: Here's Something Different
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,227
Bear Country
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I think seeing a frog explode would probably be the coolest thing ever. I could consider my life complete after that...
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#352569 - 04/28/05 02:29 PM
Re: Here's Something Different
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10K Club
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 13,994
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Note to self: do not drink bottled water shipped from Hamburg.
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#352570 - 04/28/05 02:34 PM
Re: Here's Something Different
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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That's some scary stuff. Hopefully it turns out to just be a genetic defect in this generation of frogs.
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#352571 - 04/28/05 02:35 PM
Re: Here's Something Different
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Gold Star
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 306
The guards won't tell me.
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Wow, I've sooo been there. Have you ever sneezed, burped and farted all at the same time? I bet that's what the frogs are doing!
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#352572 - 04/28/05 05:30 PM
Re: Here's Something Different
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Platinum Poster
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 553
Memorial Stadium
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This will end up as a new menu item at KFC...Popcorn Frog. Scientists definitely need to investigate this issue of ETS (Exploding Toad Syndrome). It could spread to other species (EDS, EHS, or ESPS) (Exploding Dog Syndrome, Exploding Human Syndrome, or Exploding Stupid People Syndrome). It could become a world-wide epidemic. Maybe the German people should stop throwing out the leftover sauerkraut so close to the pond.
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#352574 - 04/28/05 05:47 PM
Re: Here's Something Different
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Platinum Poster
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 829
Maryland
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Ever read Stephen King's book "Dreamcatcher?" Aliens have landed and they invaded the frogs?
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#352575 - 04/28/05 05:57 PM
Re: Here's Something Different
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Gold Star
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 306
The guards won't tell me.
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Quote:
Quote:
Wow, I've sooo been there. Have you ever sneezed, burped and farted all at the same time? I bet that's what the frogs are doing!
Unbelievable, I can't believe you just said that!
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#352578 - 04/28/05 07:45 PM
Re: Here's Something Different
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Power Poster
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,030
somewhere out there
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I know this is kind of sad (and strange), but I would kind of find this humorous to watch.
I know call me strange........
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#352579 - 04/28/05 07:46 PM
Re: Here's Something Different
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Gold Star
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 306
The guards won't tell me.
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Oh, it was totally funny! But I felt bad afterwards...
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#352581 - 04/29/05 05:50 AM
Re: Here's Something Different
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Diamond Poster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,115
Where the wind comes sweeping ...
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Quote:
I wouldn't try that... Ever feed a seagull an alka-seltzer? It's horrible!
Uh...how would one even think to feed alka-seltzer to a seagull?
"Hey honey, it's beautiful day, let's go give some antacids to the birds!"
And I thought the town I live in is boring!!!
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