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Frogs And Fairy Tales

Frogs And Fairy Tales

Date: 2013-02-13
Staff at the Dangerous Creatures Exhibit in the uShaka Village have extended an invitation to guests on Valentine's day to come and meet their frogs of love - the Giant Bullfrogs (Pyxicephalus adspersus). It has been said that today more than ever, frogs need our passion and our love. Although we can't promise handsome princes will appear, we do promise that by loving frogs you will help create a better world for all of us.

In February each year we celebrate Wetlands as places essential in providing clean fresh water. Frogs are reliant on uncontaminated water as they absorb nutrients and chemicals from their environment through their skin. Frogs provide an essential service in controlling the insect populations and act as early indicators of water pollution.

Wetlands play an essential part in the regulation of river flow, filter pollutants and fertilizers and act as spawning zones for some species of fish. Wetlands also provide flood control by soaking up the water that falls as rain. Wetland plants are very productive and support a rich web of life, from simple algae to larger mammals.

South Africa boasts 160 different species of frogs - as a comparison the United Kingdom has 6 different species. Half of all the frogs found in South Africa are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. At least 23 South African frog species are threatened and need our urgent help.

Luckily it's not difficult to help these little fellas. They need you to compensate for the on-going and unrelenting habitat destruction and welcome them back into your gardens. They are a noisy bunch -but if you plant some indigenous shrubs in a shaded, warm, damp area with leaf litter, rocks and logs, away from your bedroom window I am sure that when they start their love calling you will enjoy the more distant offbeat harmony.

Don't use insecticides and other dangerous chemicals in your garden, as unfortunately these pesticides aren't insect specific and end up harming birds, insects and fogs who you want to encourage back into your garden.

Don't pour chemicals or other harmful substances down any drains which lead into wetlands and rivers -precious frogs live there.