Toad Media

MEDIA

21 October 2008

MUSTER ENDS WITH RECORD NUMBERS

The Stop the Toad Foundation's third annual Great Toad Muster ends tomorrow on a high note. Over four weeks, 90 volunteers from all over Australia have culled an unprecedented 69123 cane toads from the approaches to the WA border.

STTF Chairman, Robert Edel, who has recently returned from the field camps at Bullo and Auvergne stations, said today: "I'm really proud of what our people have achieved this year. We have worked in close co-operation with staff from Department of Environment and Conservation and we have had terrific support from the station owners, the local and indigenous communities, and the many businesses that sponsor our effort to protect the Kimberley.

This year, we demonstrated our ground-breaking barrier strategy at work for the first time. I think this new method accounts for the high numbers and I'm very pleased that we now have such an efficient weapon at our disposal."

This year, STTF has deployed an array of temporary fences made from shade-cloth around waterholes and dams. With toads unable to access water, they congregate behind the barriers and are easily collected by hand. The method has made culling toads much safer, simpler, and more labour-efficient.

"After a week's busting, a waterbody is usually toad-free," said Robert Edel. "Once we broke the back of the main influx at Auvergne," said Robert Edel, "We were able to move westward onto Bullo to chase down smaller outbreaks and pull them out of the country before the onset of the Wet. We've learnt a lot in the field this year and this new efficiency will be a real boost to the battle to keep WA cane toad-free."

This year's Muster, which garnered unprecedented public and media response, comes to an end as a new push for Kimberley tourism begins. "Baz Luhrman's new film and his much-anticipated tourism campaign will bring a renewed focus on our north," said Robert Edel. "But people want to know they have a healthy environment to showcase. After all, who wants to fly halfway across the world to meet a cane toad at the Bungle Bungles? That's why we are out there, to maintain the unique qualities of the Kimberley. With the support of the State and Federal governments we can defend it."

STTF's Campaign Manager will be in the field until 25 October.

Photo’s available on request phone 94207266

Media Contact - Russell Gueho: 0408954254 Robert Edel: 0417 927 830

City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi Street, West Perth, 6005.