Cane toads

A heartfelt cry from the Kununurra Community to the Nation.

We will Stop the Cane Toads getting into WA!

 

The Kimberley Toad Busters are the only truly totally volunteer group
on the ground (since the 10th Sept. 2005) trying to stop the cane toad
from getting across the Western Australian border. To date we have
largely met all field expenses from community fund raising efforts, local government input and community donations, the
ongoing support of Biodiversity Protection Inc (and recently a comittment of $79,000 from the Federal Government) .
Despite the State Government committment of half a million dollars towards the cane toad fight, this local volunteer
group has not received one dollar of this money. Eight months later this volunteer group is sustainable only because of
local community financial input and the belief that we have provided, for the first time in 70 years, an ability to 'hold' the
cane toad front line while government and scientists find a 'biological' solution to the relentless march of the cane toad.

Papers From the 2005 Cane Toad Forum held in Kununurra

The role for community based advocacy in the campaign to stop cane toads

Chris Tallentire

Director, Conservation Council of Western Australia

Email: chris.tallentire@conservationwa.asn.au Ph: (08) 9420 7266

Abstract

There is a near unanimous view: cane toads are bad and we don’t want them to disrupt our WA ecology, industry or lifestyle. The Conservation Council of Western Australia is the State’s peak non-government environmental body, whose mission is to promote conservation and environmental protection throughout the State. We advocate on a non-party political basis for conservation and environmental protection. What role can the Council best play in the campaign against cane toads? We are happy to take advice on this, but we see it as vital that we are engaged so that we can use our skills to enhance community awareness and understanding of the cane toad threat.

The Council’s experience is that campaigns have the impact of re-invigorating interest in places. The recent ‘Save Ningaloo’ campaign has contributed to a significant increase in interest in Ningaloo coast, as have campaigns on the interest in old growth forests. A successful cane toad campaign could be a tremendous opportunity to boost the profile of the Kimberley region. It could also be used as a vehicle for improving the involvement of the Perth based community in the sustainable use and enjoyment of the Kimberley .

The cane toad has the potential to further improve the broader community’s understanding of the threat posed by exotic animals and plants. For the conservation movement the cane toad campaign presents many challenges. What if the best solution to the problem involves genetic engineering? How confident can we be with bio-control systems?

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