The threats facing Giant Bullfrog Although not yet quantified, it seems that the major factors causing the general decline of Giant Bullfrogs across southern Africa, and most markedly in South Africas Gauteng Province, include habitat destruction, degradation and fragmentation, road kill, and direct persecution by people. The construction of Fourways Mall and Monte Casino apparently obliterated two of the largest breeding populations of Giant Bullfrogs in Gauteng, and probably South Africa. Habitat degradation in terms of water pollution has also had its toll on the species, especially on the East Rand of Gauteng (i.e. Ekurhuleni), e.g. toxic leachate entering Bullfrog Pan in Rynfield, Benoni, has caused deformities and increased mortality in probably South Africas largest existing population of Giant Bullfrogs. The continual construction of roads is fragmenting this species natural habitat into smaller and smaller pieces. Construction of the proposed Pretoria Witwatersrand and Vereeniging (PWV) 5 and 9 Freeways will destroy and fragment a vast amount of grassland including several wetlands in Gauteng. The mortality of Giant Bullfrogs on roads at night, usually after heavy rain, is also a very apparent and severe contributing-factor to this species decline. Superstition-based persecution of Giant Bullfrogs, and their harvesting for human consumption probably had little impact on the species in the past. However, with the extensive amount of land that is progressively being inhabited, particularly in Gauteng, persecution and harvesting of Giant Bullfrogs is becoming increasingly threatening for this species. Obliteration of an important bullfrog breeding site Pollution, and its toll on Giant Bullfrogs up.ac.za/bullfrog/
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 09:55:57 +0000
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