Did you know that South Africa is home to its very own Hobbit? There is a strange and peculiar creature that dwells in the grassy highlands of KwaZulu-Natal, spending most of its time underground, probably reading a book and enjoying a warm cup of tea. It’s called the Bilbo’s Rain Frog (Breviceps bagginsi).

Have you ever wondered what it means for a species to be Vulnerable, or Critically Endangered? Why is a species considered ‘threatened’, and what’s threatening it?

The vision was simple but ambitious: create something beautiful, accurate, and multilingual that could inspire pride and awareness across South Africa. About frogs.

Earlier this year, Anura Africa commissioned wetland health assessments at two sites in the southern Drakensberg — one within the Giant’s Cup Wilderness Reserve, and another on the farm that hosts the Splashy Fen music festival.

From Borneo’s rainforests to the Drakensberg, Anura Africa has been connecting with herpetologists & conservationists across the globe. Highlights included WCH10, the Herpetological Association of Africa meeting, & the NEWF Congress. These events sparked new collaborations & strengthened African-led conservation. “We returned energised & more committed than ever,” says Director Jeanne Tarrant. The goal now: to amplify African voices & ensure frogs across continents are seen,

Bridging Tongues, Saving Frogs... Tomopturna - Sand Frogs -Isele Lasesihlabathini (photo credit Bionerds Pty Ltd) In a country as linguistically rich as South Africa, what’s in a name can be the difference between confusion and connection. In this guest blog, Dr Fortunate Phaka takes us on a journey through the 11 official languages of South Africa—highlighting how local frog names aren’t just words, but cultural keys to conservation. From “Segwagwa” to “Mabhruku,” these name

Learning to Listen: Understanding the Population Health of Threatened Amphibians.

We are all becoming more aware about the biodiversity crisis - we are currently in the 6th large-scale extinction event on earth. Current extinction rates are up to 1000 times higher than the natural ‘background’ rate. We know that many species and habitats are threatened, mostly due to human activity, and unsustainable rates of consumption by an ever-increasing human population. But what does any of this mean? Often the terms ‘threatened’ and ‘endangered’ are used interc

Extinction debt refers to the delayed extinction of species following habitat destruction or other adverse environmental changes. While these species may temporarily persist, they are functionally committed to eventual extinction due to deteriorating environmental conditions that can no longer support the species’ life processes. Amphibians are particularly sensitive to environmental changes because of their permeable skin, complex life cycles, and specific habitat requiremen

Launching Anura Africa – Advancing Amphibian Conservation in Africa Rattling Frog, Western Cape, South Africa anuran /əˈnjʊərən/ ZOOLOGY noun 1.    a tailless  amphibian  of the order  Anura  ; a frog or  toad . This Leap Year, 29 February 2024, we are proud and excited to launch a new amphibian-focused conservation organisation - Anura Africa . What, you may ask, is Anura? The word “Anura” comes from the Greek [1] for “without tail” and describes the Order of amphibians co