20/08/2026
ATTENTION all Bergvliet, Tokai and Meadowridge residents
The annual migration of our endangered Western Leopard Toads is expected to start very soon.
During breeding season, the toads leave our gardens and green spaces to make their way to nearby water bodies. Die Oog is one of their major breeding hotspots!
Toads are nocturnal and move from dusk into the night, especially on wet, rainy evenings. Because their skin is adapted to living mainly away from water, they travel across roads to get to deeper ponds, vleis, and dams. When a car approaches, they tend to crouch and try to rely on their camouflaged appearance to 'hide' from the oncoming danger. Not the most effective strategy unfortunately.
⚠️HOW YOU CAN HELP SAVE THEM
1. Drive extra slowly and stay vigilant, especially at dusk and during the night.
2. Keep an eye out for toads moving particularly near wet areas and nature areas.
3. If it’s safe to do so, carefully help a toad cross in the direction it was already heading.
Where are they heading?
Toads prefer clean, deeper water (0.5m – 1.0m deep) with reeds or bulrushes like Typha capensis where females can safely wind their strings of eggs. They look for sites like permanent vleis, seasonal wetlands (like Tokai Park), garden ponds, and sluggish rivers, where water hopefully won't dry up before November when the tiny toadlets emerge!
Let’s work together to protect our local wildlife and keep our roads safe for these incredible creatures.
🔗 Want to learn more about the Western Leopard Toad and how to help? Visit https://www.westernleopardtoad.org/
