Frogs are under threat worldwide, from habitat loss, pollution, and, more alarmingly, a new deadly parasitic fungus known as amphibian chytrid.
Greater Leaf-folding Frog Afrixalus fornasinii
Frogs and toads play an important role in the ecology of
the garden, where they eat insects which make up the largest part of the diet
of frogs, they also eat slugs, earthworms and millipedes
Painted Reed Frog Hyperolius marmorata
If you want to play your part and ensure their survival
in your own back yard, there are several things you can do to create a
frog-friendly garden.
.
Natal Forest Tree Frog Leptopelis natalensis
Build a pond using a sheet of thick plastic laid into a
depression covered with a suitable layer of soil or out of concrete. It need
not be large to be effective and it need be no more than 30 cm deep. In fact
any container big or small that holds water can be used to attract frogs. Water
plants need to planted into the pond to provide shelter and food for tadpoles.
Even more important than the pond itself is the area
around it, so suitable local indigenous reeds and other marginal aquatic plants
need to be planted in and close to the pond which will then provide an attractive
habitat for reed and other frogs.
Natal Dwarf Puddle Frog Phrynobatrachus natalensis
In addition local indigenous shrubs, groundcovers and
grasses must be planted nearby to provide additional shelter and to attract
insects slugs and other food for the frogs to feed on. The more indigenous
plants you have in your garden the more habitat you will provide to make it
attractive to frogs. A garden full of sterile exotic plants will attract very
few if any frogs.
Red Toad Schismaderma carens
Because all frogs breathe partially through their skin,
they are particularly sensitive to toxic chemicals in the environment therefore
you should avoid using insecticides in the garden wherever possible.
African Common Toad Amietophrynus gutturalis
All the frogs photographed above and many other species
are resident and breed in my own garden in Mount Moreland in a number of small
and large tubs, shallow plastic trays, plastic dirt bins and concrete ponds
which have been place in strategic positions within the plants in the garden.
If you would like Ecoman to design you a garden that is attractive to frogs please view my website at
http://www.ecoman.co.za
