Who would have thought a suburban swimming pool could save lives? William and Lisa Macdonald, of Sun Valley, near Fish Hoek in the Western Cape, may have found a way to help save the endangered western leopard toad (Schlerophrys pantherinus) from extinction in their area. “We settled here eight years ago and found the greenery of the dune belt, nestled at the foot of Table … [Read more...]
More than 80 leopard toads start marching
On Monday 27 August, toads started migrating in Sunvalley Fish Hoek and Lakes, with more than 80 toads recorded in 3 hours! The following day, toads in Noordhoek joined the party and the ToadNUTS (Noordhoek Unpaid Toad Savers) had calls coming in from Devilliers farm, Living Art farm and in Noordhoek proper as well as Fish Hoek sports fields. Volunteers were trying really … [Read more...]
Watch out for the toad moon
The next full moon is the start of our resident endangered Western Leopard Toad's epic migration across the Western Cape's roads to their local breeding ponds! In Noordhoek a group of special folk, the ToadNUTS dedicate themselves to helping ensure a safe passage for the toads towards and back from their breeding places. Now they are counting the days to the big work … [Read more...]
A hop away from extinction
Watch out for the threatened Leopard Toad crossing wet roads at night! Long ago the City's southern suburbs consisted of many waterways - an ideal breeding ground for the Western Leopard Toad (Amietophrynus pantherinus). Then people moved in and erected walls around their properties, confining the frogs' normal movement and breeding patterns. Folk in this region still know … [Read more...]