Couple leaves traditional jobs, bets on a rare business, creates a frog farm with 100,000 giant frogs in 108 pens in the far west of Santa Catarina and is already projecting growth.

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 31/05/2026 at 16:39

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AquaRã Enterprise in Princesa gathers 108 pens, complete production cycle and first batch in final phase, with own investment, cold challenge, destination for specialized slaughterhouse and plans to triple the structure

With about 100,000 animals distributed in 108 pens, a couple of entrepreneurs from Princesa, in the Far West of Santa Catarina, transformed an old eucalyptus area into a frog farm dedicated to breeding giant bullfrogs. The AquaRã project started about a year ago, betting on a complete production cycle and already foresees new units.

Giant Bullfrogs Become Unprecedented Bet in Princesa

The breeding of giant bullfrogs was chosen by Mauro Lunkes and Angélica Knob after years of work in other areas.

He is trained as an Occupational Safety Technician, while she has a degree in Administration.

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Structure has 108 pens and first batch in final phase

AquaRã started about a year ago and already houses about 100,000 frogs. The animals are distributed in 108 pens, with approximately 800 animals per unit.

This is the first production batch of the giant bullfrog in the enterprise. Part of the animals is already ready for slaughter, while most should remain for a few more days in the development phase.

The area where the frog farm operates today was once a eucalyptus plantation. The transformation required planning, studies, and the entrepreneurs’ own investment.

According to Angélica, the availability of water was one of the decisive factors in choosing the property. The activity depends on a constant supply, especially as it involves tanks, pens, and management in a controlled environment.

The owners also received support from the public authorities through service hours for earthworks, cleaning, and expansion of the existing ponds in the area.

Production operates in a complete cycle

The giant bullfrog breeding was organized in a complete cycle system. This means that the frog farm includes the stages of breeding, tadpole rearing, and fattening.

The breeding area houses the reproductive frogs. In the tadpole rearing area, the tadpoles develop. Then, the animals move to the fattening phase, which lasts about six months.

The external structure houses the breeding and tadpole rearing tanks. The shed is used in the final fattening stage of the frogs.

The fattening pavilion is approximately 750 square meters. Among the main investments of the project are the construction of this space, the purchase of reproductive frogs, and the acquisition of 330,000 tadpoles to start the production cycle.

The masonry pens maintain a constant layer of clean water. The enclosed environment also features controlled management and protection against predators, focusing on the health and development of the animals.

Couple leaves careers and invests in large bullfrog breeding — Image: Reproduction

Cold is a challenge for giant bullfrog breeding

The giant bullfrog cycle lasts approximately one year. It takes about six months in the tadpole phase and another six months in the fattening phase.

The frog ready for slaughter weighs, on average, 350 grams. In the far west of Santa Catarina, however, the climate is one of the main challenges of production.

According to the owners, the temperature directly influences the development of the animals. Frogs perform better in warmer environments, which requires special attention during winter.

To reduce this impact, the entrepreneurs are investing in heating in the fattening sector. The measure aims to provide better development conditions for the animals during colder periods.

Currently, the entire management of the frog farm is done by only two people. The production will be destined for a specialized slaughterhouse in Chapecó, with a refrigeration standard aimed at export.

In the future, the owners are also considering implementing their own slaughterhouse on the property.

Couple leaves careers and invests in large bullfrog farming — Image: Personal archive / Disclosure via ND Mais

Project plans three units and partnership with producers

The frog farm currently has a main structure, but the project plans three units of the same size. Angélica states that the construction of the next units should start soon.

The entrepreneurs estimate that the return on investment will occur within two years. Being the couple’s first experience in the sector, some challenges have extended this timeframe.

In addition to their own production, Mauro intends to implement a partnership system with small producers in Princesa and neighboring cities.

The proposal includes lectures on frog farming, identification of interested parties, technical support, supply of animals, and guaranteed purchase of production.

The producer emphasizes that the activity requires compliance with specific regulations and strict environmental licensing. According to him, the process is carried out legally and regularly, with the support of a partner company responsible for guiding and monitoring the implementation.

Frog meat is considered an exotic product with high market value. The food is appreciated for its texture similar to chicken meat, in addition to being rich in protein and low in fat and cholesterol.

For Angélica, frog farming stands out for its profitability and the appreciation of a meat considered noble and healthy.

This article was prepared based on information from the material provided about the AquaRã enterprise, with data, numbers, and statements preserved as per the consulted material.

Couple leaves traditional jobs, bets on a rare business, creates a frog farm with 100,000 giant frogs in 108 pens in the far west of Santa Catarina and is already projecting growth.

AquaRã Enterprise in Princesa gathers 108 pens, complete production cycle and first batch in final phase, with own investment, cold challenge, destination for specialized slaughterhouse and plans to triple the structure

Giant Bullfrogs Become Unprecedented Bet in Princesa

Structure has 108 pens and first batch in final phase

Production operates in a complete cycle

Cold is a challenge for giant bullfrog breeding

Project plans three units and partnership with producers

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Couple leaves traditional jobs, bets on a rare business, creates a frog farm with 100,000 giant frogs in 108 pens in the far west of Santa Catarina and is already projecting growth.

AquaRã Enterprise in Princesa gathers 108 pens, complete production cycle and first batch in final phase, with own investment, cold challenge, destination for specialized slaughterhouse and plans to triple the structure

Giant Bullfrogs Become Unprecedented Bet in Princesa

Structure has 108 pens and first batch in final phase

Production operates in a complete cycle

Cold is a challenge for giant bullfrog breeding

Project plans three units and partnership with producers

A giant printer called the “Ferrari” of concrete has landed in Latin America and can already build a 120-square-meter house in just 48 hours, making the traditional construction site look like something from the last century.

Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has ceased to be a climatic phenomenon and has become a biological system that feeds on itself, with 8,000 kilometers in length, 37 million tons of algae, and scientists confirm that it is now permanent.

A British company has installed in the middle of the ocean the world’s first floating platform that generates electricity 24 hours a day from the temperature difference between the surface and the depths of the Atlantic, without relying on wind or sun.

Brazil will harvest a record crop of up to 357 million tons of grains, but it does not have the capacity to store a large part of it. The storage deficit has reached the highest level in history and is equivalent to almost the entire production of Argentina.

Engineers had to pour concrete mixed with tons of ice throughout entire nights in the Dubai desert to erect the Burj Khalifa; any carelessness could clog the pipes half a mile high.

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