This week on Inside Africa, CNN International travels to KZN to learn about the conservation efforts to protect some of Africa’s smallest and lesser-known creatures.

One of the stars of the show is the Pickersgill Reed Frog, endemic to isolated wetland pockets on our coastline.

The species was discovered fairly recently, in 1978, and was named after Martin Pickersgill who found the first Pickersgill’s Reed frog in Mount Edgecombe.

Since then the critically endangered species has only be found in 20 different sites, of which only two are within protected areas.

These include Simbithi Eco-Estate as well as Zimbali and those populations are being monitored.

The little frogs were also previously found in Tongaat and Stanger.

The small amphibian has since been taken to the Johannesburg Zoo to take part in a captive breeding programme.

Inside Africa speaks to Dr Adrian Armstrong of the Biodiversity Research & Assessment Division at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife who explains the importance of smaller species: “Most of life on earth is actually found in the little things, the invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and those sorts of things.

“They also play a very important roles in ecosystems, without them ecosystems wouldn’t function and the large mammals and birds that we are so familiar with wouldn’t survive.

“One of the goals we have is to save species that are on the brink of extinction and this frog was the most critically-threatened frog in South Africa.

The programme also looks at the conservation efforts around other South African species, including the Knysna Seahorse – the world’s most endangered seahorse.

Inside Africa’ airs on Friday 8^th February at 20h30 SAST on CNN International

The show also airs at the following times:

• Saturday 9^th February at 11h30 SAST and 21h30 SAST
• Sunday 10^th February at 02h30 SAST, 07h00 SAST and 14h30 SAST
• Monday 11^th February at 07h00 SAST.
• Tuesday 12^th February at 12h30 SAST.