Toad Media

MEDIA RELEASE

Monday 3 July 2006 – No embargo

Big toads in big numbers – likely to be closer still to WA.

Over four nights (June 28-Jul1), a Stop The Toad Foundation coordinated toadbusting exercise has removed 571 toads from the Auvergne Lagoon in the Northern Territory, little more than 100kms from the WA border. A further 21 toads were removed from another lagoon system to the north west of Auvergne Lagoon.

The Stop The Toad Foundation originally discovered cane toads at Auvergne Lagoon in the Northern Territory on June 17.

Toad expert and STTF Regional Coordinator Graeme Sawyer said “This confirms our belief that the toad front has reached the East Baines River system. There are very significant numbers of large adults in the area and evidence that breeding had occurred in the last 6-8 weeks. With such large numbers it is almost certain there will be toads even further to the West.

“The exercise gave us some very valuable on-ground information and confirmed our fears that toads are well established right across the northern end of our buffer zone. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the front line. I have seen suggestions in the media that these are ‘incidental’ incursions. Such thinking is wrong and potentially dangerous.

“On the positive side, the fact that over half the captures were females is an indicator that toads are already in ‘refuge’ mode due to the cooler, dryer weather. But they are still likely to continue breeding unless the lagoon is cleared of them.

“This area is a potential time-bomb as far as WA is concerned. An alarming number of the toads were ‘huge females’ and had eggs in development. Toads from this area will cross the Pinkerton Range next wet season, unless they are removed.”

The team comprised people from the Stop The Toad Foundation, Northern Land Council (Caring for Country Unit), Ngaliwurru-wuli Women's Rangers and the CALM Cane Toad team, as well as some Timber Creek locals.

Photographs available. The Stop The Toad Foundation’s Dry Season strategy is available here.

Graeme Sawyer may be contacted on 0411 881 378

Dennis Beros - Campaign Manager
Stop The Toad Foundation
0409 244 029