Kaloula: The Dance

Sometime during the 21st century a group of scientists conducted an experiment. In the nature reserve north of the village lived a kaloula, a large frog species. They saw it as a chance to study if animal populations could be regulated by introducing new animals into their environment. So they took a few small frogs from the reserve and placed them around the village. In time they grew larger, or at least changed in other ways. And while before this frog had only been a non-poisonous garden pest, soon it started guarding its territory aggressively – even killing any human that came near. And when a young child fell down a well and drowned, the villagers’ patience broke. They called in the military to kill the kaloula. The child’s death was not the last. The frog was quick and smart, and could kill several soldiers at once by emitting a thick cloud of toxic gas from its skin. And it seemed to be breeding rapidly. But the military had access to better weapons; they finally managed to corner it in its cave home where one soldier could deal with it easily. As the frog was dying in its cave it seemed to be laughing, swaying back and forth, arms outstretched in a mockery of an ancient children’s dance. The villagers called this dance “the Mummers’ Play”.

Kaloula is still alive – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaloula_b