Zandvlei Trust

 Western Leopard Toad Census 25/08/2004

Erika Foot and Kareemah Jacobs ( Zandvlei Nature Reserve Manager and Student Officer ) co-ordinated a well organised census with documentation to read and fill in, live (expired) specimen and sound recording, for the group leaders and teams.
This is a continuation of the 2003 census to gather information to manage the remaining fragmented populations. The information will be collated and published to help make as many people aware of the Red Data listed 2001 (as endangered) Western Leopard Toad.

This group of 40 enthusiastic frog counters, some from far afield, 
met at Rutter Road, Lakeside, just after sun set. There was an air
of excitement and anticipation amongst the enthusiasts made up of
professional, knowledgeable and complete novices.

Kareemah holding a tape recording for all to hear the call of of Western Leopard Toad.

Kareemah explaining the requirements and wishing all good luck in finding the toads.

The group broke up into teams with leaders and a clipboard with documentation to fill in. The teams had to go to designated areas surveyed last year. Some 11 areas were covered this year.

Threats to the Western Leopard Toad;
One of the biggest threats is the natural habitat loss, followed by the man made obstacles – roads, road gutters, boundary walls with no open areas at ground level, buildings and canals with steep vertical banks made by machines, that the toads have to negotiate during breeding season.
The Western Leopard  – also called the August and the Snoring Toad, males move from their foraging areas in the direction of the rivers, wetlands – vleis, dams and seasonal pools of water from the winter rains. They then begin to call (their distinctive snoring sound), a deep resonant sound that reverberates long distances especially near and over water. This lasts for about 1 - 2 weeks. The calling attracts the much larger females (up to 14cm) carrying the eggs to the water, where they mate and leave the eggs to hatch in the water. They then start to move back to their foraging areas. There is a high mortality rate especially of the mature prime adult populations are at risk. They are often driven over by motor vehicles in the roads. To all motorists please be aware at this time of the year.
A few weeks later (many factors influence the timing) the toadlets emerge from the water and start to move to foraging areas with no parental guidance. Some years there are thousands and thousands and other years very few. Many of these toadlets will not make it safely to the foraging areas, as they are about the size of an adults small finger nail. They also have to negotiate the same obstacles as the adults as well as the opportunistic predators who would be aware of the visible mass exodus.

This is also applicable to many other species of toads and frogs, not only the Western Leopard Toad.

Photograph by Charles Oertel – 2003       This shows the distinctive markings and colouring.

These toadlets were rescued from a swimming pool at Die Ogg by Una Hartley in 2002. The previous year she saved thousands over a period of 5 days and nights. 2001 was an exceptional year at 'Die Oog' for the numbers of toadlets migrating. 

Even at this size they have their beautiful distinctive markings.