 |
| The Giant Bullfrog Pyxiceplalus adspersus is the largest southern African amphibian |
 |
| Photos used with permission from Vincent Carruthers |
The Giant African Bullfrog
Q: ?
Vincent Carruthers, a recognized environmentalist, who has written/contributed to a variety of highly looked upon publications like: "Frogs & Frogging"- said:
“Conservation measures should attempt to show that the demise of Giant Bullfrogs and other amphibians as a result of urban and agricultural development reflects a decline in freshwater resources and this will ultimately impact on all of us. Environmental science is moving away from the conservation of individual endangered species and is now emphasizing the need to conserve viable ecological processes. Terrestrial life, including human life, cannot exist without freshwater.
Wetlands are the source of all surface freshwater systems. Wetlands perform vital services such as flood velocity attenuation, sediment arrest, erosion control and toxicant filtration. Frogs are important indicators of wetland health because:
- tadpoles represent the aquatic environment and adult frogs represent the adjacent terrestrial environment;
- each species occupies a different specialised niche within the wetland habitat and together they represent the whole complexity of the wetland mosaic;
- their porous skins are susceptible to pollutants and they react quickly to chemical toxins such as insecticides;
- they are significant predators as well as significant prey and so their presence reflects the status of a wide range of other biodiversity.
Giant Bullfrogs are "flagship" bio-indicators of critically important wetland systems in the highveld regions of southern Africa."
Vincent Carruthers
Caroline Yetman, nominated for the Shoprite Checkers SABC 2 Woman of the Year, Science and Technology Category and well known conversationalist and zoologist and the African bullfrog community, said:
"Biodiversity issues must be presented in ways that entertain the Masses. So the Media and Celebrities are useful. Most people are only willing to make changes to their lifestyle for the benefit of Biodiversity, if they have incentives to do so (e.g., rewards, recognition, employment opportunities, tax refunds, etc.)."
Caroline Yetman