Himalayas · Tibetan Mastiff
Five new frog species found in the Himalayas – the Tibetan Mastiff never deigned to notice
Der Hündeler, Edition of Thursday, 12 November 2026 (edition 2)
What happened
Scientists have discovered five new species of miniature frog in the eastern Himalayas. According to the researchers, the frogs evolved as the Himalayas rose and the Asian monsoon took shape.
What does this mean for your Tibetan Mastiff?
The Tibetan Mastiff has guarded Himalayan monasteries and herds for centuries, working from a strict list of priorities: snow leopard, wolf, stranger at the gate. Anything smaller simply does not exist in an official capacity. Missing five species of frog is therefore not an oversight but a sensible division of labour with the scientific community. Besides, his main shift is the night, and at night he prefers barking into the darkness to peering under wet leaves. In China, individual Tibetan Mastiffs once changed hands for millions; a miniature frog would not have made it onto that market even as a free gift. The same order applies in a Swiss back garden: the pond belongs to the amphibians, the driveway to the mastiff.
What you can do now: Glance at the ground now and then on the evening walk. The Tibetan Mastiff will continue to cover the horizon.