03/05/2023 | Mérida, Yucatán. At 10 years old, Jahaziel has rescued more than 100 toads since he began his work in Fraccionamiento Las Américas in Mérida. Accompanied by his mother, he dedicates rainy afternoons to removing these amphibians from the houses to take them to safe green areas.
Two years ago, the little boy discovered his vocation: one day he will be a biologist and dedicate his entire life to saving as many species as possible, but for now, he concentrates on his nine rescued pets – eight cats and a dog – and on the toads and frogs that neighbors report in their homes.
“I remember one day the house flooded and a toad came out, I rescued it and took it to a green area and I started to like doing it, since the house was frequently flooded. We started to do it in the middle of the pandemic, my mom helped me to advertise with the neighbors, especially with those who have a phobia of toads and I did not want them to harm them,” shared Fernando Jahaziel Magaña Díaz.
It is through social networks that Jahaziel’s popularity increased and also the services requested so he is committed to do a professional job. For this he has received training from biologist Pedro Nava and other biologists in the country, who advise him on how to handle and relocate these amphibians.
Jahaziel also does research and watches videos or reads books that guide him in this social service for which he does not charge anything.
“We do it for love, I don’t worry about how much is spent on gloves, boxes or cages, we dedicate from 6 pm to 10 pm to save as many toads as we can because we want them to be in a safe place, although it is increasingly difficult for us to find green areas because of all the construction in the area,” lamented Jazmín Díaz Vera, mother of Jahaziel, who overcame her phobia of these amphibians in order to support her son’s mission.
Although they do not charge for their service, which they carry out in Fraccionamiento Las Américas or neighboring areas, they do receive donations from neighbors to continue investing in material that will allow them to continue their work.
And they have even been trained to give advice via message or phone call for people who are in remote areas.
“I ask people who are afraid of toads to remain calm and not to hurt them. They can catch them with gloves and take them to green areas. Remember that they help the ecosystem because they are the main eliminators of pests, such as ants and insects,” said the little boy, who is currently in fifth grade.
Rescue and advice on how to remove the toads from homes can be obtained through this number 999 746 6257, which is answered by Jazmín.
For now, the family is working on more training to be able to rescue other species, such as snakes and tarantulas, and Jahaziel expressed his desire to become a biologist.
TYT Newsroom
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