Every year, usually during the month of August, thousands of Western leopard toads in Cape Town make their way to various ponds for a hopping good time. The males fight for the hottest female in the pond, the females then lay their eggs in the pond and once the party is over (usually within a few weeks) everyone frog marches back home to the gardens from whence they came.
This froggy get-together has been happening for centuries, but what the toads didn’t bargain for were the roads and highways that have since been built around their breeding grounds. The result is a lot of toads being squashed en-route to their ponds and home again. Not only is this a bit of a party-pooper for the Western Leopard Toad, it has led to them being put on the endangered list.
Luckily for the toads, help has arrived in the form of volunteers who have managed to save thousands of them from ending up as frog pancakes. This year, volunteers in Noordhoek have gone one step further. With the support of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, they have erected a toad barrier on Noordhoek Main Road. The toads cannot jump over this barrier and wait patiently for volunteers to come collect them and take them safely to Lake Michelle where they congregate until September. The toads don’t have to wait too long for their party bus to arrive as volunteers patrol the barriers several times in the evening and in the morning. Once the party is over, volunteers will help the toads get back home again.
Being an avid supporter of conservation and frogs (and parties of any kind) I personally love this toad-arrive-alive campaign and hope more volunteers hop on board to help save the Western leopard toad.
Patience please, toads crossing
While volunteers assist the toads in getting across the road safely, please exercise a little patience if you are held up on the road for a few minutes. They are helping to save the toads from extinction and I am sure the toads will make a toast to you at their pond party.
How you can help save the western leopard toad
When the rain falls, the toads make their way to the ponds. So there is no better time than right now to sign up as volunteer. The need for volunteers is extensive as breeding sites are numerous and scattered. Areas included are Muizenberg, Kirstenhof, Tokai, Constantia, Bergvliet, Grassy Park, Obesevatory, Hout Bay, Kommetjie, Glencairn, Fish Hoek and Noordhoek.
Visit www.leopardtoad.co.za or call the WLT hotline on 082-516-3602 for more information on the Western Leopard Toad and how to volunteer.
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