A decade of frogging keeps us leaping for joy

Jeanne Tarrant, EWT Threatened Amphibian Programme Manager

In 2012, volunteer and Public Relations expert Carmen Curtayne and I wanted to do something to highlight both the importance of amphibians in South Africa and the severe threats they face. After much brainstorming, we devised the ‘Leap Day for Frogs’ campaign.

The idea was to create an annual national awareness day on 28 February – tying together the themes of Leap Year, leaping frogs, and taking a leap of faith (doing something demonstrable for frog conservation). We wanted to bring much-needed attention to frogs and their extinction threat. We also wanted to have fun in the name of frogs, encourage the public to get involved in science (citizen science), and celebrate South Africa’s incredible variety of frog species. With almost half of the world’s amphibian species experiencing some level of decline, bringing as much attention to frogs as possible has never been more important. South Africa is home to over 130 species – from the Giant Bullfrog (the size of a dinner plate!) to the Micro Frog (the size of your thumbnail), and all shapes and sizes in between. This enormous diversity is mirrored in the wide range of landscapes that frogs inhabit – from coastal wetlands to montane grasslands, gardens, forests, and even deserts.

Frogs are not just long-limbed, leapers. These water-loving amphibians play important roles in our ecosystems by feeding a wide array of other animals and eating vast quantities of insects – i.e. incredible free pest control! They are also important bio-indicators due to their sensitive skins and bi-phasic lifestyles. In other words, if they are around, our environment is healthy. These barometers of life are now the most threatened group of species on Earth, surely a sign of a planet in trouble.

To bring awareness to these very important and beautiful yet threatened creatures, we have devised annual themes over the past ten years for Leap Day for Frogs. 

We celebrated the 10th Leap Day for Frogs this year, which coincides with EWT’s 50th anniversary. As part of the latter, EWT will share a fun frog fact each Friday throughout the year.

Our theme this February was #CelebrateFrogs, and we reached over 3,000 people directly through over 15 events and outings, with over 165,000 people engaged through the social media campaign. Once again, we partnered with Kloof Conservancy and Iphithi Nature Reserve in Gillitts KZN, where over 150 people participated in various fun learning activities, despite very soggy conditions. We also gave lessons on the importance of wetlands to school learners based close to some project sites, receiving pledges from over 220 children to reduce impacts on frogs and freshwater. We also enjoyed a peaceful evening at the Mount Moreland wetlands, home to the Endangered Pickersgill’s Reed Frog, with several nature lovers, and a talk and walk at Simbithi Eco-Estate. uShaka Marine World, Joburg Zoo and the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria hosted educational stands and activities over the weekend of 25 February, engaging over 1,800 people. Other events were held in Bloemfontein, Plettenberg Bay and Howick.

We’ve designed social media filters and run citizen science observation projects, and in total, reached well over 16,000 people directly through events run either by the EWT or through several partnering organisations, including SANBI, uShaka SeaWorld, North-West University, various KZN Conservancies, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein Botanical Garden and Johannesburg Zoo Amphibian Research Project. Occasionally, we have even had international events – from Wales to Zambia! Our online reach through social media exceeded hundreds of thousands of people and hopefully inspires the next generation of amphibian conservation biologists – or at the very least, highlights some simple behaviour changes that can benefit frogs and freshwater habitats.

Check out our Leap Day for Frogs page to catch up with your Froggie Facts!