With Western leopard toads crossing Cape Peninsula roads at night for their annual breeding migration, the Two Oceans Aquarium is urging motorists to slow down and keep a close eye out for the endangered amphibians.

Every August, the toads leave their garden habitats and embark on journeys of up to 5km to reach breeding ponds and wetlands, putting them at risk as they cross busy suburban roads.

Helen Lockhart, Two Oceans Aquarium conservation and sustainability manager, said some toads will travel up to 5km to get to their breeding grounds, but many die on the roads.

“The Western leopard toads’ migration is fraught with danger, as the toads must navigate suburban roads at night. In an interaction between a toad and a car, the toad always comes off second best.”

She said the toads tend to move after heavy rains, with several areas already experiencing the beginnings of this migration.

Migration hotspots include Kirstenhof, Lakeside, Muizenberg, Norfolk Park, Orchard Village, Tokai, Constantia, Zeekoevlei, Rondevlei, Grassy Park, and Noordhoek.

She urged the public to drive slowly in these areas and to look out for the toads on the roads at night.

“Toads can look like small white stones in the headlights of cars. If you spot a toad on the road, pull over safely, gently pick up the toad, and move it to the other side of the road in the direction it was facing.

“The toads know exactly where they are going, so you don’t have to figure it out for them. The toads will thank us by helping to keep mosquito, cockroach, and other insect populations in check,” said Lockhart.

Lockhart said members of the public can also help by volunteering during the migration season to help patrol the roads at night and to move toads across the roads to safety.

“The Western leopard toad is endemic to the Western Cape, meaning they live nowhere else in the world,” she explained.

She said these amphibians are most active from late July to September, particularly during the August breeding season.

“During this time, the males make their way to the water first before beginning their iconically loud, snoring calls to attract females. As a uniquely Capetonian species, Western leopard toads’ survival depends on people making space for them in our shared urban landscapes.”

For more information or to become a volunteer email wltcapetown@gmail.com

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