For many Puerto Ricans, the nightly “coh-kee” (a sound of a little frog called coquí) is like a national lullaby.

But for a claimed visitor, the noise is more of a nightmare.

The post is titled “Spray to keep noisy frogs quiet?” Amphibian residents and enthusiasts. Over the past month, dozens have expressed their concerns on social media that the island’s tourists seem to want to silence creatures.

On tiktok, videos pleading alone have been watched millions of views. Some users urge people not to come to Puerto Rico if they don't like the voice of coquís. Others also joined the chorus of voices, calling on people to protect Kokis from possible harm.

Alejandro Ríos-Franceschi, associate professor of ecology, biodiversity and evolution at the University of Puerto Rico, said he had never heard of people in Puerto Rico trying to kill Coquis before social media posts. Puerto Rican environmental officials have not weighed the online uproar.

However, the fear expressed by many locals and environmental enthusiasts did not surprise Ríos-Franceschi, given the frog's love. On the island, many Puerto Ricans were taught from childhood to care for and appreciate them.

"Coquí is not noise - it's a lively soundtrack for Puerto Rican identity," said Ríos-Franceschi.

Ríos-Franceschi believes that there are 17 kinds of coquís, most of which are unique to Puerto Rico. These creatures are small, muddy and brown. Men are known for their “CO” voices that dissuade other men, and the “qui” voices are designed to attract women.

As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico is bound by rules and laws on U.S. fish and wildlife services, meaning anyone who harms coquí can face serious legal trouble. As of 2017, some Coquís were classified as endangered. But the ordinary coquí that made the iconic sound was not threatened.

Ríos-Franceschi said frogs are also an invasive species in Hawaii. In 2003, the Associated Press reported that state and federal officials were trying to eliminate the frog population in Oahu, citing the need to control them.

Superstar rapper and singer Bad Bunny from Puerto Rico has even posted information about the creature. Last week, he hints about ongoing discussions about them by sharing an Instagram story that croaked against the backdrop of his song "Lo que le lelepasóa Hawaii", which translates to "What's going on in Hawaii".

Ríos-Franceschi, also head of research for the nonprofit conservation group Proyecto Coqui, said that if tourists actually actually come to Puerto Rico and try to spray coquí with chemicals, it could enter groundwater and spread to other organisms, potentially destroying the entire island’s ecosystem.

For Puerto Ricans, the frog's voice is "the melody of our ears, but I can understand that it can be bothering to tourists who are not used to it."

“But that doesn’t mean that when tourists come here, they have the right to kill them just because they’re annoying.”