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Some tourists went viral on Reddit after bragging about silencing Puerto Rico’s iconic coquí frogs
The post sparked backlash, with Puerto Ricans calling the act disrespectful to the island’s culture and wildlife
Bad Bunny responded on Instagram, amplifying the coquí’s croak as a subtle but powerful defense of his home, Puerto Rico
Bad Bunny is once again using his platform to speak out for Puerto Rico, this time not just through his lyrics but through his actions and love for the island.
On Wednesday, May 28, the global superstar, whose real name is Benito Martínez Ocasio, shared a cryptic message on Instagram Stories, which many took as a response to a growing controversy about the coquí, Puerto Rico’s iconic little frog with the big voice.
badbunnypr/Instagram
Bad Bunny
As per mitú, Bad Bunny posted a black screen with a drawn-out version of his song “Qué Le Pasó a Hawaii” from his latest album Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, that featured the croak of the coquí turned way up.
It all started when a Reddit post on the r/PuertoRicoTravel subreddit went viral. A tourist at a restaurant in Condado was reportedly overheard bragging about spraying something at their Airbnb to quiet the coquís. The coquís’ nightly song is considered one of the island’s most cherished and recognizable sounds.
Puerto Rican content creators quickly pushed back, calling the move disrespectful to both local culture and native wildlife. Many locals called out the harmful action in the comments, writing: “If you don’t like the coquí, maybe Puerto Rico isn’t the place for you.”
Beyond being annoying to a few tourists, this issue touches on something much more serious. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, “Any person that injures, captures, or kills a Coquí guajón destroy its eggs, and/or modify its critical habitat is subject to penalties under Federal law.”
Though the Coquí guajón is one species, the common coquí is found everywhere on the island. Nonetheless, their protection matters to both conservationists and island residents.
For Bad Bunny, his Story wasn’t just about frogs: It was about respect for the island, its culture and the people who live there.
He’s been sounding that alarm for a while now with Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, specifically his song “Qué Le Pasó a Hawaii,” which warns against Puerto Rico following in Hawaii’s footsteps with over-tourism and outside investments that in his eyes, have chipped away at Puerto Rico’s identity.
Kevin Schafer/Getty
Coquí frog
In the song, he sings, “They want to take the river and the beach away from me … They want my neighborhood and my grandma gone.” Throughout the track, the coquí’s croak echoes briefly in the background. Alongside the album, he released a short film, which was a visual love letter to Puerto Rico.
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It features “Toad Concho,” a frog mascot that’s part playful character and part symbol for the island’s vulnerable wildlife. Like the song, the film reinforces what’s at stake.
For many Puerto Ricans, the coquí isn’t just a frog; it’s home. And with one simple Instagram post, Bad Bunny managed to remind the world of that.
Read the original article on People
