28/08/2026
🐸 This gorgeous Western Leopard Toad was found near Stanford with a badly broken leg during a routine population count. Sheraine van Wyk from Whale Coast Conservation Fund quickly got him to Eastcliff Vet in Hermanus, where Dr Ester performed a full examination and x-rays. He's now in the care of the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue Centre, where he's being kept as still as possible to give the leg the best chance of healing; the prognosis is guarded, but he's got a lot of people rooting for him.
The Western Leopard Toad is listed as Endangered, largely due to its restricted range, ongoing habitat loss, and ever shrinking habitat quality. They're also incredibly vulnerable during their breeding migration, often needing to cross busy roads to reach their breeding ponds; a journey that claims far too many lives each year.
One of their most fascinating traits is their explosive breeding behaviour, with large numbers of adults suddenly converging on ponds during the winter breeding season.
As opportunistic feeders, they play a valuable role in gardens too, consuming large numbers of insects and other invertebrates and helping to keep the ecosystem balanced.
Stories like this are a reminder that no species is too small, or too easily overlooked, to matter. Every creature, no matter its size, plays a role in the bigger picture; and every one is worth fighting for 🐾
Thank you to Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue Centre and everyone involved in this little one's care 💚
