The third annual Leap Day for Frogs returned due to popular demand on February 28.
The day was coordinated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) based in Modderfontein and followed on from the success of the 2014 event.
The aim of the day was to celebrate the diversity of frogs, raise awareness about these interesting animals and highlight the fact that amphibians are globally the most threatened of all vertebrates, including in South Africa, where 30 percent of our frog species are Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable.
“The idea behind the day was to get as many individuals, organisations, companies and especially schools throughout South Africa involved in creating their own events. Whether these took a more serious format, such as a local river or wetland clean-up, or just having fun in the name of frogs by dressing in green, was up to you. 2014 saw at least 30 events taking place across the country, and this year was aimed to exceed that,” said Dr Jeanne Tarrant, the EWT’s Threatened Amphibian Programme (TAP) manager.
South Africa is home to some 120 species of frogs, each with their own life-histories, habitats and behaviours.
The awareness campaign aimed to put frogs on South Africa’s conservation map by providing information on what people, businesses and government can do towards reducing their negative impact on amphibian habitats, as well as how they can create environments that are conducive to the survival of frogs, including in their own back garden.
“The effectiveness of conservation of frogs is linked to how people perceive them, and unfortunately this is often in a negative light, particularly in countries like South Africa, where many superstitions are associated with these creatures.
“If we are to effectively conserve this group, we need the public to get on our side. Leap Day for Frogs aimed to highlight a serious issue, which many people are unaware of, but also to have some good froggie fun,” said Dr Tarrant.
For further information about the EWT-TAP and Leap Day for Frogs, visit www.leapdayforfrogs.org.za/www.ewt.org
