European capitals recently announced that Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was poisoned with the neurotoxin epibatidine, which can be found in certain poisonous frogs native to South America. This toxin is believed to be present in various species of the South American poison dart frogs, particularly those found in the jungles of Ecuador and Peru. While obtaining these frogs is relatively easy through legal channels or the black market, experts suggest that the toxin used in Navalny's case is more likely to be a synthetic version rather than a natural substance.

Andrea Teran from the Ecuadorian Amphibian Research and Conservation Center 'Jambatu' noted that poison dart frogs can be found easily at markets, raising concerns about the accessibility of the toxin. According to CITES permit data, more than 800 individuals of the suspected species, Epipedobates anthonyi (known as Anthony's poison dart frog), have been legally exported from Ecuador over the past decade. Despite potential imagery of spies in Ecuador's jungles or black market dealings, the consensus among experts leans towards the likelihood of a synthesized form of the toxin being used in the poisoning of Navalny.

This case brings to light not just the ease of obtaining such toxins, but also highlights the shadows in chemical warfare and exposure to synthetic poisons, often not tracked as rigorously as their natural counterparts. As investigations unfold, it may prompt discussions on the regulation of chemicals used in warfare and espionage, particularly concerning their synthetic manufacturing and potential misuse by state actors.