GAC invites you to the Endangered Species Day at the Bullfrog Pan

The Glen Austin Conservancy (GAC) invites residents to join them in observing Endangered Species Day at the Glen Austin Bird Sanctuary and Bullfrog Pan.
This will be held on May 20 from 10:30 to 12:30.

Endangered Species Day is observed each year on the third Friday of May to raise awareness of the continued plight of endangered species. It is also to celebrate those species that have recovered because of conservation efforts, though the fight to preserve biodiversity is ever ongoing.
GAC chairperson Dave Allanby said an endangered species was any species of animal or plant that was in serious threat of becoming extinct due to a sudden rapid decrease in its population or a loss of its critical habitat.

“Roughly 99% of threatened species are at risk because of conflict between human activities and conservation. Although some hazards occur naturally, most are caused by human beings and their economic or cultural activities,” added Allanby.
He said each species that were lost triggered the loss of other species within their ecosystem.

Allanby said GAC’s goal was to try to preserve the biodiversity of the area, specifically the wetlands and the habitat of the threatened giant African bullfrog which was the flagship project of the conservancy.”Midrand was previously an agricultural holding green belt between the concrete jungles of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Halfway House was exactly that, the halfway point between two cities, the stopover for the watering of weary horses and travellers.”

He concluded that in the 21st century, human beings were the greatest threat to biodiversity and were the major drivers of biodiversity loss.

Related article: 

Glen Austin Conservancy AGM outlines big plans for the Bullfrog Pan