Researchers tracked them down to two areas, but kept their location secret

Why? Annoyingly typical of the BBS to throw in that detail and not follow it up.

> [..] Bristol University conducted extensive long-term research projects on them whilst keeping the location secret.

They kept it secret to not disturb the research they were conducting.

But why? Secret from who? Is there some ring of frog thieves at work? Are frogs considered a national security issue? What I'm questioning is this posture of secrecy as a default without any apparent reason for it.

Today, I'd blame influencers that would like to go there to take a photo or piss on the frogs and upload the videos to social media. (And a few persons that want a exotig pet frog too.)