11/09/2013 - Una Hartley relates this experience which took place this week at a friends house in Lakeside.
The bathroom had recently been renovated with a shower screen installed which left a small gap between the screen and the wall and a cupboard. There was a frog stuck in this narrow space and it was elongated, emaciated, pale grey in colour and appeard to be dead. How long had it been there? Dont know, maybe days?
What to do? Leave it alone? It will start to stink if it is dead, wont it? We have to see if we can get it out.
We called for friend Ronald's help who fashioned a thin stick with a bend, so it could be slid down next to the frog, to try and lift it out. We were afraid it may break the frogs skin. So we found another thinner stick and managed to make an angle at the one end, which could go past the frog to try and lift it out. Again it looked like it may damage the frog.
Una decided if
they wet the frog it may slide down and come out at the bottom, where
they could catch it before it fell onto the floor.
Something almost miraculous happened when they poured water onto the
frog. It came to life, rehydrated it self to a full sized toad, its eyes
opened and it changed from pale grey, to the colouring and markings of a
Leopard Toad before their eyes. It moved by itself and started to slide
down the shower screen till it fell into Una's hand at the bottom.
She took it home and put it in her garden.
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How many people have seen this transformation of a Leopard Toad before?
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And in this short time frame?
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Is this what happens when they hibernate?
25/08/2013 - Mark Arendse from the Zandvlei Nature Reserve has made this poster information sheet available. Download the.pdf.
One side of the information A4 poster.
05/08/2013 - Lyn Gilbert reports that she found this pair of WLT in her garden today. "They have been in amplexus for more the an hour" she explained. "...and I have never seen such a dark specimum before" she added.
photograph by Lyn Gilbert.
The matchbox is for reference to help give scale to the size of the toads.
photograph by Lyn Gilbert.
The very dark colouring of the male is unusual.
13/07/2013 - Susan Wishart
reports "Dear KirMiTS, friends and any other
volunteer and interested parties!
We will be having an information session for this years activities which
is about to start".
photograph by Clifford Dorse.
A mating pair of Western Leopard Toads. The egg strings can be clearly seen in the photo.
As winter draws in, we humans light fires to keep warm and snuggle under thick blankets. Winter is a time of semi-hibernation for us, but for the Western Leopard Toad it is the exact opposite. As temperatures drop, toads begin to hear the call of the breeding pond. Towards the end of July, our spotty friends will start their annual breeding migration to their local pond. Negotiating many obstacles and hazards, the toads face the worst danger of all on our roads – cars!
Last year we saved 86% of the toads we encountered in 18 suburbs. Without volunteers the death toll would be far greater. To quote Melanie, a toad patroller: “This is our turf, we must look after it to the best of our ability. Every child should experience the joys of watching a tadpole turn into a frog. How will this happen if we ignore the fragile environment in which these amazing Toads live? We must give back to a species whose area we have invaded, let us take care of the little area that is left for them. If you are unable to help by patrolling, at least be aware of what to look for when driving in wet weather, the time the Toads are on the move.”
If you would like to participate in saving this species from extinction, join us for essential volunteer training on:
20th July 2012 at 3.15pm to 5.00pm - Tokai
Library Hall, Tokai Road.
Please RSVP to Susan Wishart - Khaye@learntoearn.co.za or 083 441 4740
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