How can I help?

What can I do to help the WLT?  

  1. Make your garden toad-friendly
  • create an undisturbed, natural part of your garden, with logs and or stones
  • plant locally indigenous vegetation (it’s much easier to maintain, and water-wise!)
  • minimise (or don’t use) chemicals such as pesticides, non-natural fertilisers
  • install a toad-saver on side of swimming pool, and/or stones on steps so that toads can walk out.
  • ensure your swimming pool backwash pipes flow into the sewerage drains. It is against CoCT by-law to discharge anything other than stormwater into the stormwater system.  Penalty of fine as per the most recent tariff schedule.
  • consider having an eco-pool or small pond where WLTs could breed
  • cover deep drains
  • provide some low water for drinking or soaking in summer (a bird bath or plant pot bases are ideal)
  • ensure WLTs can move come and go, under palisade fencing or faunal holes in solid walls
    1. Volunteer during migration time
    • If you can, please join a group to assist WLTs crossing roads, during the 1-2 weeks they choose in July-September.
    • All you need is warm clothing, torch and a cellphone with GPS. The Coordinator will explain exactly what to do in the area you cover.
    • Some areas are suitable for the whole family (e.g., in quieter well-lit residential areas). Children love going out for an exciting evening, saving lives!
    • Contact your nearest WLT Coordinator Click here for the list
      1. Become a WLT Guardian
      • If you prefer day-time activism, you can join dedicated groups by helping preserve WLT habitat, monitoring nearby breeding sites and raising awareness in local communities.  Contact your nearest WLT Coordinator (link to Contacts).
      • Contributing to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA’s) is a vital way of adding your voice when these public participation processes occur.  Try to stay informed about local development projects.
      1. Add to research data, upload observations
      • Become a Citizen Scientist for a night (or more!) by uploading onto iNaturalist.org photos of each unique toad. Please take photos and upload on iNaturalist.org. Click here to learn how to use the app
      • The City of Cape Town bases planning decisions on scientific data about vulnerable wildlife. The more proof of WLT numbers and of roadkill hotspots, the stronger the case to protect in accordance with By-laws. 
        1. Assist the removal of invasive Guttural Toads in Cape Town, by reporting any sightings and contacting NCC

         

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        CONTACT US

        Feel free to contact the Western Leopard Toad Conservation Committee if you would like to get involved or have any enquiries. 

        For the Contact Details of the coordinator in your area, please click here.....

        Address

        Cape Town, South Africa 

        Email

        wltcapetown@gmail.com

        Legal Status 

        The Western Leopard Toad is a protected wild animal in terms of the Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 19 of 1974. This means that no person may harm, capture, possess, or transport this species, or keep it in captivity, without a permit from CapeNature, the provincial nature conservation authority.

        No commercial trade is allowed in this species.  Any person conducting research on this species requires a permit from CapeNature. 

        Images supplied by:  Jeremy Shelton, Angela Gorman, Philippa Clemo, Kurt van Wyk, Michelle du Toit, Gareth Williams, Mike Fabricus, Paula Strauss, Suzie Phillips.

        Illustrators:  Gina Viglietti, Alex Kappers and Philippa Clemo.