AT KLEIN PARADIJS WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE
CONSERVATION OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

The gardens at Klein Paradijs are indigenous and do not require special watering in the summer months.

A part of the Klein Paradijs estate is a Voluntary Conservation Site recognized by the Cape Nature Stewardship Program of the Western Cape conservation authority. In order to achieve this accreditation, the property has been cleared of all alien invasive plant species, which are very thirsty and highly inflammable in the hot and dry summers: e.g. foreign acacias, eucalyptus, myrtle and pine. Since 2021, Klein Paradijs has been a member of the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy. The aim of this organization is to promote local biodiversity by conserving indigenous flora and fauna.

The last fire that swept through the property was in early March 2018. Fire is a part of the natural growth cycle of the fynbos biome. Since then the veld has fully recovered, and it is mature enough again for the harvesting of flowers, which is done by a company that is certified in sustainable harvesting. 

In addition, the endangered Western Leopard Toad and Cape platanna (Xenopus gilli) have been recorded around the dams at Klein Paradijs. The estate is also home to many different kinds of birds. Klein Paradijs keeps a list of all the species sighted on the property. A camera trap records some of the movements of wild animals on the property: caracal, porcupine, and buck to mention just a few.

THE WESTERN LEOPARD TOAD (AMIETOPHRYNUS PANTHERINUS)

Klein Paradijs has been identified as a breeding site of the endangered Western Leopard Toad by the South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). From the end of July to the beginning of September these vulnerable toads are known to breed in various areas of the Western Cape, where they congregate at ponds or dams in their short breeding season. They can be identified by their loud snoring call.

Western Leopard Toads, which incidentally are the largest South African toads, are also called “August frogs” or “snoring toads”, most probably because of their specific breeding habits. They are identified by the chocolate brown patches on their backs, which are surrounded by a yellow border. They have a pink-brown swelling (the parotid gland) behind each eye. Western Leopard Toads can be confused with Raucous Toads (Bufo rangeri). However, their call is very different: The Western Leopard Toad makes a snoring sound, while the call of the Raucous Toad sounds like a quack.

In order to help save the Western Leopard Toad, scientists are trying to learn more about these creatures, which represent a significant link in the natural food chain and are an important biological indicator.