On the hunt for frogs in Marloth Park
The adventurous holiday town greeted the summer solstice with croaks, mud and wonder as Dr Jeanne Tarrant of the Endangered Wildlife Trust donned her gumboots and led 25 people in search of amphibians in the Gruispan wetland on December 22.
One of Africa’s foremost experts on frogs, Tarrant began the evening at 18:00 by explaining aspects of frog biology and why their presence in wetlands is an important indicator of good water quality.
Her visit was arranged by the Marlothii Conservancy, which rehabilitated the former gravel pit and maintains it as an important wetland habitat for frogs, birds and other wildlife.
Among the eight species of frogs spotted on the balmy December night, the most common discovered were the painted reed frog and the foam nest frog.
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The 25 explorers listened attentively to every piece of advice Tarrant shared with them throughout the night as they were searching for different types of frog species.
As several lions were known to be actively hunting in the park at the time, the municipality supplied armed rangers to ensure that the frog hunters did not become the hunted.
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