Western Cape Leopard Toads - south africa

[mark stotesbury]

Well its that time of the year again when the toads start migrating to the breeding ponds , most being in built up urban areas they need all the help they can get crossing roads and navigating around drains and pavements . Volunteers go out each night and do roving patrols collecting and safely moving toads to the nearest breeding ponds . A few pics of this endangered little guy .

 

[crosslandkelly]

Good pics Mark. Thanks.

 

[Harvestman]

What a lovely looking creature! Nice one. Thanks for posting.

Just how endangered are they?

 

[mark stotesbury]

It has an endangered status due to its fragmented distribution within the Cape Peninsula there are isolated breeding populations separated by a mountain range . Its very common in our area I have 27 toads in the garden in pipes and drains ,biggest threat is cars and people cutting their lawns once the toadlets leave the ponds . To get an idea the adults cross two main roads in peak hour evening traffic to breed and then do it again to return to their respective gardens when they finished 5 days later .

 

[Harvestman]

Thanks. Really interesting. Frogs and toads tend to suffer with traffic because they tend to stay still when they feel threatened.

 

[Elen Sentier]

good pics, thanks for sharing ... wish we could learn to live with non-human critters rather than on them

 

[Turnstone]

That's a beautiful toad, thanks for sharing!