The Blue Hills Veterinary Hospital cautions Gauteng road users to be aware of Giant Bullfrogs on the road; they are endangered and likely to hop up after the first rains.
Johannesburg, South Africa – The African Bullfrog a.k.a the Giant Bullfrog is an endangered species and laying in wait for the first summer rains to hit. Once the first rains arrive, the bullfrogs will come out and most likely end up on the roads.
The Blue Hills Veterinary Hospital issued a public announcement to ask all Gauteng residents and travellers to be aware of the bullfrogs as they will end up on the roads. If any are spotted, the veterinary hospital asks that you stop and get the bullfrogs away from the busy streets.
“When (!Positive!) it rains this week, being the first big rains of the season, the bullfrogs are going to appear on the roads in numbers.
Our Giant Bullfrogs are regarded as a threatened (endangered) species, and they are our neighbourhood treasures.
Please be kind, and wherever possible move them gently into safer off-road spaces.
Thank you from the frogs”
Did you know, the African Bullfrog males can weigh up to 2kgs and grow to 20 – 25cm, the females are around half that. They are carnivorous and will consume nearly any animal that can be overpowered and can fit in their huge mouths.
They sound amazing and add to the melody of the first rains. So let’s all be mindful and protect these already endangered amphibians. A woman asked the vet how to handle the bullfrogs and they said gently.
“Gently and carefully! See our vet nurse handling the bullfrog in the photo above – no, we didn’t get warts, no we didn’t get ill, actually, the bigger risk was hurting the bullfrog! You can also pick them up in a cloth / small towel, and lift them that way. Sounds silly to say, but please please please don’t throw them – lift and place them down gently”
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