Cane Toads
Are tree frogs spreading lungworm?
Scientists say common green tree frogs may be spreading lungworm.
Photo by Rod Hartvigsen
They have an immune system that can handle the parasite, but may be carrying it from one species to another.
Lungworm is fatal to cane toads (which can’t climb) to magnificent common green tree frogs (which spend little time on the ground).
Prof Rick Shine says magnificent green tree frogs living in remote areas, which cane toads don’t like, will probably survive.
Science Network WA [read this story]
Lungworm kills tree frogs
Hopes of using a parasite as a new biological control for cane toads have been dashed.
Photo by Rod Hartvigsen
It has proven fatal to one of the Kimberley’s tree frog species.
Science Network [read this story]
Minister reviews cane toad strategy
Environment minister Albert Jacob announced a review of the WA Government’s cane toad strategy.
A cane toad prevented from reaching water by a barrier fence. The government will not fund this method.
“With cane toads now appearing throughout the east Kimberley, the focus for the next five years is on preventing the establishment of new satellite populations and managing the impact of cane toads on native wildlife,” Mr Jacob said.
“A number of proposals, such as the use of parasitic lungworms to reduce cane toad populations and fencing to exclude cane toads from important sites, have been investigated and found not to be viable long-term management options.”
You can read his statement here:
Molema Island: Quolls could survive cane toad invasion
Scientists hope toxic cane toads will never reach the quolls just discovered on Molema Island.
The endangered northern quoll – courtesy WWF
They say the toads are likely to reach some Kimberley islands as they travel on rafts of floating debris, or simply swim out on plumes of fresh water as rivers flood in the wet season.
Science Network [read this story]
Perth: Live cane toads found in truck
Toll Express staff in Perth found seven live cane toads in a shipment of mango plants from Kununurra.
A cane toad
They quickly sealed the truck and called Parks and Wildlife.
A wildlife officer said the toads might have started breeding if they had escaped.
PerthNow [read this story]
Cane toad ‘buffer zone’ considered
Government and other agencies are considering establishing a “buffer zone” to stop cane toads entering the Pilbara.
It would depend on keeping toads away from water points in the arid country south of Broome.
$500,000 cane toad program announced
Local member Melissa Price says the Commonwealth will spend $500,000 over two years to combat cane toads.
You can read her media release here:
Oombulgurri: Science helping goannas avoid toads
A scientist and Indigenous Rangers are feeding small cane toads to goannas to make them sick.
When they recover, they will hopefully avoid eating larger toads with lethal amounts of poison.
Science Network [read this story]
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