WESTERN LEOPARD TOAD INFORMATION SHEET
For more information visit the website: www.leopardtoad.co.za
What does a Western Leopard Toad (‘WLT’) look like?
Size: Average size about 8 – 10cm, up to 14cm
@ C. Dorse
@ C. Dorse
Where do they occur in the Cape Metropolitan Area?
Southern suburbs of the City of Cape Town (CoCT) – Observatory to Kommetjie, and
Breeding sites: Rivers & Wetlands
Foraging Area: Natural & transformed open space within the built-up residential areas
around the breeding sites.
What do WLT’s do?
During the day: Hide underneath vegetation, soil and stockpiled material etc.
During the night: Move around to forage.
July – December they move towards waterbodies to breed and lay numerous eggs.
August – October they develop from eggs to tadpoles to toadlets within the water.
October – December the toadlets emerge from the water to move into the foraging
areas.
Most WLT’s remain within 500m from the breeding site but they can move up to 2km
from the waterbody.
The WLT spends most of the year in their foraging areas and return to the same
breeding site every year in July.
What do you do when you find a WLT?
DO NOT harm the WLT or any other animal you encounter.
The WLT is a protected species. They are Endangered and it is offence to harm a WLT
and any transgressor shall be charged under the Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 19
of 1974.
Leave the WLT / animal to move away on its own.
Should the WLT be trapped or in harms way, gently pick up the WLT in cupped hands
and place it in a safe area – as close to possible to where it was found – with some
vegetation cover.
DO NOT move the WLT large distances or place them in water.
DO NOT place the WLT in containers that could have some chemical residue as it will
kill them.
For the handling of any potentially dangerous animals please contact the CoCT:
Biodiversity Management branch (Tel: 021 – 514 4170) or your closest City Nature
Reserve.
You can also phone the WLT Hotline: 082 516 3602 for more information.
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Your work & the WLT:
Removal of invasive vegetation from the watercourse & wetland
o No works between July – December in the breeding sites.
o Emergency work during this period must be agreed to by CoCT:
Biodiversity Management.
o Check for WLT adults, tadpoles or toadlets during operations at all times.
Dredging of silt from riverbed & earthworks in wetlands
o No works between July – December in the breeding sites.
o Emergency work during this period must be agreed to by CoCT: Biodiversity
Management.
o Do not create deep pitfall traps (deep holes or trenches with straight vertical
sides) that the WLT and other small animals cannot get out of.
o Re-vegetate disturbed areas with locally indigenous plant species.
Re-shaping riverbanks
o No works between July – December.
o Emergency work during this period must be agreed to by CoCT: Biodiversity
Management.
o River banks must at all times be shaped with no steep vertical gradients
(gentle sloping banks are preferred).
Erosion Control (i.e. construction of gabion structure)
o No works between July – December in the breeding sites.
o Emergency work during this period must be agreed to by CoCT: Biodiversity
Management.
o Degradation of WLT habitat such as pollution of water & soil, the creation
pitfall traps etc must be avoided.
o Re-vegetate disturbed areas with locally indigenous plant species.
Stockpiling & Removal
o Check stockpiled material and underneath plastic covers, drums and other
containers before removing it or placing weight on it.
Upgrading of Roads: kerbstones, gutters, trenches & mixing of road
construction material
o When replacing or repairing kerbstones, they must be placed at a 45º angle
or they must be of the roll-over type in order to allow toads to exit the gutter.
o A minimum of 1 such kerbstone every 5m.
o Check trenches every morning for trapped WLT’s and place trapped
individuals in a safe area.
o Do not mix construction material on the soil or near water.
o Remove any open or leaking containers which contain chemicals.
Training & Awareness
o All on-site staff must be familiar with this information sheet and comply with
the above specifications. Contact the WLT Hotline: 082 516 3602 for
assistance with the training of staff if required.
Machinery left on site over night must have drip trays placed underneath them.
Machinery used must be well maintained in order to prevent oil leaks.
Created on 2009/09/17
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