Odd News Roundup: Man named Vote will cast ballot for change in South Africa; Eager volunteers help toads cross the road in Russia

It was April 27, 1994. Swept up in the excitement, Ubisi and her husband named their newborn son Vote. Eager volunteers help toads cross the road in Russia In a nature reserve on the outskirts of Russia's former imperial capital, volunteers are helping thousands of toads to cross a sun-dappled road so that they can reach their spawning grounds.

Following is a summary of current odd news briefs.

Man named Vote will cast ballot for change in South Africa

When Mariana Ubisi went into labour in her one-room home in rural South Africa, millions of Black citizens were queuing to vote in the election that would bring Nelson Mandela to power. It was April 27, 1994. Swept up in the excitement, Ubisi and her husband named their newborn son Vote.

Eager volunteers help toads cross the road in Russia

In a nature reserve on the outskirts of Russia's former imperial capital, volunteers are helping thousands of toads to cross a sun-dappled road so that they can reach their spawning grounds. Thousands of toads hunker down during the bitter Russian winter months in the swampy pine forests outside St Petersburg, awakening in the springtime to migrate to their spawning grounds in the lowlands on the Gulf of Finland, a few kilometres away.

(With inputs from agencies.)