Cane Toads came to the NT a few years ago.
There was great panic and for a while lots
of dead Goannas and Crocks.
Then it was discovered that the breeding cycle
of male and female toads got out of sync so there
were not so many Cane Toads.
90% of the Goannas died but 2 species of snake
which came from Indonesia were Cane Toad tolerant.
This helped to control the pests.
Ground breeding birds like the Bush Stone-curlew,
Masked Lapwing, Pheasant Coucal seem to be much
more numerous. Goannas not eating eggs.
Just wondering did any other members laugh when viewing the above picture?
Not shure why i laughed either?
Maybe victory over the pest.
Cheers Beef.
Did u c the video?
not yet i will have a look tomorrow.
Cheers Beef.
Doesn't look like the inside of the toad is too palatable to the crow either - thanks for sharing that!
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
"Victory over the pest". If only. I don't know what's happened to the Queensland university professor who found a way to alter the cane toad's genes so that it would become "daughterless". It seems the scientific world doesn't see eradication of the cane toad as a major priority. Admittedly there are probably greater pests such as the fox, cat (feral and domestic), rabbit, wild pig, indian myna, etc but all the same I would love to see victory over the cane toad in (what's left of) my lifetime.
I understand that the Australian government, in its infinite environmental wisdom, has cut or eliminated funding for research into cane toad eradiction.
Unfortunately Woko the government gets advice from the scientists and if they say its not a priority then the government, with all the competing demands it has to contend with, will only be too happy to agree. And a lot of research is tied to grants for commercial benefit. There is no money in bumping off cane toads. Quel dommage. The toads are a serious blight on Australia's natural landscape and an omnipresent monument to our stupidity.
Hi Night Parrot. I was rather taken aback by your statement that the federal government goes on the say-so of scientists when deciding on funding priorities. I had no idea this was the case. After all that's been written & spoken about the scourge of cane toads it's hard to understand how anyone could not fund research into their eradication. Perhaps the scientists who are say-soing are ex-scientific practitioners who are now bureaucrats with personal agendas.
Great pic
I'm surprised that you're surprised Woko! All departments have to submit budgets and prioritising of programs is an inherent part of that process. Of course government policies and aims have overriding influence, but I would be surprised if the government deliberated on micoscopic items of expenditure such as cane toad control (unless there was some political imperative). On a personal level our dear leaders don't have to confront issues like this unless there is voter pressure. After all, its not as if Gloria Jillard has to dodge cane toads as she makes her way across the back yard of the Lodge to go to the dunny in the middle of the night. And its not as if Mr Rabbit, when he cycles the roads in his budgie smugglers, does so on a rainy night in Queensland. They have to take advice from the experts. In the case of cane toads, the experts are the scientists and they obviously don't see toad eradication as a priority.
I was surprised, too, at my surprise, Night Parrot. I thought there was at least some political imperative about cane toads given their devestating impact on wildlife & the frequent news items about them. However, I'm wrong again. There is no political imperative, apparently. So it's all hands to the garden forks & spades, folks.
On a brighter, so to speak, cane toad note, I did hear some time ago that an anti-cane toad community group in cane toad territory had discovered that males are attacted by light. The group set up cages with lights at night & attracted quite a few of the beastly creatures. So keep the bedside lights burning, too, folks.
That's not surprising at all Woko.
I couldn't say whether its just males or not, but cane toads are definitely attracted by the light because that's where the insects go. By leaving the lights on you are helping to feed them.
I need only leave a gap in the curtains at night and I will have toads waiting outside for their supper to arrive by air.
Hmm, it's a well known practice in certain districts in European (and other) Cities, to leave a (red) light burning in the window. That attracts males..... Not saying , like toads
M-L
Ah, that might explain the reason for the lights at nights strategy, Night Parrot.
Araminta, do you think red lights in Australia might attract more toads?