Flaviemys purvisi
Very Well-Known Member
JANUARY 6, 2019
By Mitchell Woodcock.
Perth should start preparing for a cane toad invasion, according to an expert on the invasive species in WA’s far North.
The Kimberley Toadbusters founder Lee Scott-Virtue believes the infestation will hit the Pilbara this wet season.
She said it would soon become clear how long it would take until the venom-secreting toads were in the metropolitan area.
The warning comes after an incredible photograph this week emerged of at least 10 cane toads hitching a ride on a big olive python in heavy rains in the Kimberley town of Kununurra.
Ms Scott-Virtue has been part of the fight against cane toads since 2004 and was part of the force fighting them when they crossed into the Kimberley in 2009.
“People have been finding toads in unusual locations. There is no doubt once we hit the wet season properly, toads will move quickly,” she said.
“I can assure you they will populate the whole of Australia one day. The toads are moving rapidly through the Lake Gregory system. Perth may as well start preparing for the cane toads invasion.”
Cane toads were introduced to Queensland from Hawaii in 1935 to eradicate beetles that were destroying the sugar cane crops.
They are prolific breeders all-year and have spread across northern Australia.
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy is holding a public inquiry because it wants to understand how well control measures have worked in the fight against the spread of the destructive pests, and whether other new controls should be implemented.
Submissions to the inquiry are open until the end of the month and must address the effectiveness of control measures to limit the spread of cane toads in Australia and additional support for cane toad population control measures.
Public hearings will be held in Canberra next month.
Member for Durack and Minister for the Environment Melissa Price also expressed concerns for their movement.
“I am concerned about the cane toads migrating south; and it is because of this concern that I agreed to the coalition Government doing the in-quiry,” she said.
