Help save amiable amphibians
National Frog Day aims to highlight the plight of frogs as 29 per cent of the 160 endemic frog species in South Africa are critically endangered.
FRIDAY 24 February is National Frog Day and the Endangered Wildlife Trust is asking South Africans to join in to save the amiable amphibians.
Senior herpetologist at uShaka Marine World, Carl Schloms says frogs are good bio-indicators. “Frogs are a hug indicator of a healthy environment. Having them in your garden means its clean,” he said.
Schloms said, “The main thing really affecting them is habitat destruction. The encroachment on to ponds and wetlands especially.” Several causes have been attributed to threatening frog numbers. These include habitat destruction and also rising freshwater pollution, disease and climate change.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust will aim to leap in the record books on Friday by setting a Guinness World Record for the longest game of leap frog.
The fourth annual National Frog Day is intended to highlight the plight of frogs as currently 29 per cent of the 160 endemic frog species in South Africa are critically endangered.
The EWT Threatened Amphibian Programme (EWT-TAP) will use the day towards the protection and conservation of three of South Africa’s most endangered frog species: the Amathole Toad , the Pickersgill’s Reed Frog and the Western Leopard Toad.
Frog fanatic, Schloms said that they are important to the environment because of the part they play in the ecosystem. “They provide such a huge food source to a lot of animals – they’re really important. They also eat mosquitoes and flies. It’s about what they provide to the environment,” the herpetologist said.
The world record attempt will be at 10am on the promenade outside uShaka Marine World.
