The Western Leopard Toad Underpass Project, a collaborative effort between the City of Cape Town and Nature Connect, has officially taken shape. These tunnels serve as safe passages for the Western Leopard Toad, allowing them to travel under the road and steer clear of vehicular dangers, particularly during their ongoing breeding season.
The Western Leopard Toad Underpass Project, a collaborative effort between the City of Cape Town and Nature Connect, has taken shape. Nature Connect spearheaded the initiative to aid the endangered Western Leopard Toad by installing six underpass tunnels along Peninsula Road that cut through the City’s False Bay Nature Reserve.
These tunnels serve as safe passages for the Western Leopard Toad, allowing them to travel under the road and steer clear of vehicular dangers, particularly during their ongoing breeding season.
Today, Deputy Mayor Alderman Eddie Andrews visited the False Bay Nature Reserve. During his visit, he observed the successful completion of the tunnels and had the opportunity to meet with the dedicated Nature Connect team, who have been at the forefront of this vital conservation initiative.
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The realisation of this project was supported by the City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management Branch, which contributed expert guidance and necessary approvals for the construction of these tunnels, serving as a crucial step in amphibian conservation.
In collaboration with the City’s Biodiversity Management branch, the Nature Connect team has triumphantly completed the installation of the sixth tunnel along Peninsula Road within the Zeekoevlei Section of the False Bay Nature Reserve. This achievement is timely, aligning perfectly with the breeding season of the Western Leopard Toad.
Peninsula Road has been a perilous crossing point for these toads, particularly in the rainy winter months when they are driven to traverse it for breeding purposes. Volunteer observations have frequently documented the toads utilising these tunnels, and the statistics reveal a notable decline in toad fatalities resulting from road encounters.
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Alderman Eddie Andrews, the deputy mayor of Cape Town and the mayoral committee member overseeing Spatial Planning and Environment emphasised the significance of the Western Leopard Toad as a flagship species for conservation.
He highlighted that the plight of these captivating creatures accentuates the urgency of maintaining robust biodiversity and well-functioning wetlands within Cape Town. These efforts are pivotal as the City strives to safeguard wildlife within its urban setting.
The Western Leopard Toad, classified as an Endangered species, exclusively inhabits the Western Cape region of South Africa. Its presence extends to various locales in Cape Town, including Bergvliet, Clovelly, Constantia, Diep River, Fish Hoek, Glencairn, Grassy Park, Hout Bay, Kirstenhof, Kommetjie, Lakeside, Noordhoek, Observatory, Scarborough, Strandfontein and Tokai.
During the period spanning from now until September, encompassing the breeding and migration seasons, the most substantial threat to the Western Leopard Toad arises from road traffic. Alderman Eddie Andrews urged residents residing in these regions to exercise caution, imploring them to be vigilant and avoid driving over toads as they traverse roads en route to their breeding sites.
‘Between now and September, during breeding and migration season, road traffic poses the biggest threat to the Western Leopard Toads. We urge residents in these areas to please be cautious and avoid driving over toads as they cross the roads to their breeding site,’ he said.
The City claimed that the realisation of this pivotal project was made possible through the contributions of various organisations, including Leisure Charitable Trust, Foundation Ensemble, Forvia Foundation and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. It said that the support of the organisations has been instrumental in bringing this ambitious conservation initiative to fruition.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook