Residents in Randpark Ridge have expressed concern for the giant bull frog as construction takes place in their breeding area. Chairperson of the Duiker Ridge Resident’s Association, Stanislov Gelman who is also a resident from the area said that the frogs were spotted regularly but since construction has begun on Bosbok Road, residents were concerned about the amphibians.
He added that the issue of the frogs was part of an ongoing one with the construction company involved in the project within the area, which has a stream running through it. “We do not know what is happening with the construction and the impact this development will have on the frogs as we have not yet been presented with any documentation from the construction company,” he said.
Gelman also alleged that there were other environmental concerns such as the hypoxis hemerocallidea, a plant found in the area and the grey owl which is considered vulnerable in South Africa.
Emily Taylor the urban conservation coordinator from the Endangered Wildlife Trust said that giant bullfrogs were found in the area, and it made sense that they were present inside the construction site as they were sighted around there.
She added that the frogs were most active between October and March and that they were often missed by environmental impact assessments for developments as they burrowed below ground.
“The giant bullfrogs bury themselves 10 – 20cm below the soil surface and can remain there for long periods – years if the required conditions for breeding (heavy rainfall) are not present. This is one reason why the species is under threat – environmental impact assessments for developments often miss the presence of bullfrogs below ground,” Taylor explained.
Taylor further noted that the giant bullfrog was under threat in Gauteng from rapid habitat loss and fragmentation due to urban development and that the conservation status of the species was near threatened but a new assessment was to be conducted and experts suspected that the situation was a little bleaker.
“When conducting environmental impact studies, at least one full year of monitoring needs to be done to ensure that all species that may occur on the site are documented before construction begins,”she said.
Taylor pointed out that if bullfrogs are located on the property and construction goes ahead, developers should try and avoid these areas as much as possible because bullfrogs are very loyal to their burrows and will not abandon them easily.
She added that if construction on the site went ahead while the bull frog was present some would escape but others that were trapped underground would be
killed. “Bullfrogs and other animals also often fall into ditches dug for construction activities and will not be able to get out, and so they too die. There is also the possibility that the frogs will be be killed by vehicles while trying to escape the construction activities,” she added.
Project manager for the construction Braam van Niekerk was adamant that their environmental impact study did not indicate any frogs in the area and added that the stream found inside the construction site would be preserved as per the specifications given to them by the City of Joburg.
Spokesperson for the Joburg Roads Agency (JRA) Bertha Peters-Scheepers said that JRA would look into the matter to ensure that all protocol was followed by the construction company building on the site.
Contact Details: JRA, 0860 562 874.
