Toad Media

MEDIA

13 September 2007

Toad Muster is a Goer!

The Stop the Toad Foundation’s annual Great Toad Muster is officially on. Despite the fact that the State Government has still made no commitment to help fund this year’s operation, STTF will apply its remaining resources to repeat the promising outcomes of last year’s operation.

Today, toads are just 100km from the WA border and moving fast. Without government and community intervention they could be in the bloodstream of the Kimberley next year.

Russell Guého from STTF said, “Last year we showed that we could remove toads from strategic zones in great numbers to create a buffer zone. We took nearly 50,000 toads off the Auvergne floodplain. We need to repeat the exercise in order to keep momentum and compare our data. There will always be people who doubt that toads can be stopped, but for passionate West Australians the prospect of just sitting back and watching them come across the border unhindered is simply not an option. We’ll never know if we don’t try. And now is the season, now is the time to act.”

Right now along the toad front, toward the end of the Dry season, water is scarce and cane toads are at their most vulnerable. They congregate in the remnants of creeks and waterholes at night, taking the precious liquid in through their skins. This is when teams of volunteers with strong lights can pick them up in large numbers. The aim is to push the front eastwards once again before the rains return.

The terrain is remote and rugged and the work challenging, but volunteer groups like STTF remain optimistic that toads can be held off until a biological solution is found.

STTF Patron Tim Winton commended volunteers for taking to the field again in trying conditions to defend the state against infestation. ‘These people are unsung heroes,’ said Winton today.

The STTF is waiting to hear from the State Government as to whether it will provide any further financial support for the highly successful Muster. "The private sector has provided funding to assist this year's Muster and we're hoping that the State will also provide funding for the Muster. The more funding we get the bigger the campaign we can run and this gives us a better chance of stopping the toad entering WA" said Winton.

The 2007 Muster will run from September 22 – October 14 and will be based in the Timber Creek area of the NT on Auvergne Station and surrounds – more information at www.stoptheroad.org.au or contact [email protected]

Enquiries to Russell Guého 0408 954 254 or Robert Edel 0417 927 830

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