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KIMBERLEY TOAD BUSTERS NEWSLETTER
50:
02/11/2012
The Cane Toad is a Key Threatening Process to the Australian Nation
Declared by the Federal Government 12 April 2005
KTB Newsletter 50
2013 United Nations Finalist as well as finalist in 7 other state, national and
international awards since 2006.
Collated by Lee Scott-Virtue President, founder & volunteer CEO of Kimberley Toad
Busters. 02/11/2013
The Kimberley Toad Busters’ Newsletter is produced by Kimberley Specialists In Research
Inc in conjunction with Kimberley Toad Busters Inc. Kimberley Specialists, a founding
member of the Kimberley Toad Busters, continues to support the campaign by maintaining
www.canetoads.com.au; raising funds and supporting cane toad scientific research.
KTBs are a tax deductible charitable entity. Please see our website for our direct donation
facility, or ways in which you can sponsor community toad busting efforts or one of our
research or educational projects.
IF EVERYONE WAS A TOADBUSTER, THE TOADS WOULD BE BUSTED!
kimberleytoadsbusters@canetoads.com.au
www.kimberleyspecialists.com.au
kimberleyspecialists@westnet.com.au
Newsletter contents:
1. KTB Research up-date
2. KTB species loss chart
3. KTB “Kids at Risk” Program.
4. Dana Lyons new ‘Cane Toad Muster’ song release
5. KTB chronological history.
Introduction:
It has been several months since Kimberley Toad Busters has put out a Newsletter and
we apologise for this but in the absence of Newsletters and Press Releases we have been up-
loading most of our cane toad fieldwork, education programs and research activity results
onto our website www.canetoads.com.au and our facebook sites
https://www.facebook.com/KimberleyToadBusters?ref=tn_tnmn
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimberley-Toad-Busters-KTB/113247412075404?ref=h
We will continue to up-load as much electronic information as possible but will also
be sending out at least two more newsletters before Christmas to bring everyone up to date
with what has been an incredibly busy 2013 for Kimberley Toad Busters.
1. KTB Research up-date
Kimberley Toad Busters continues to sponsor cane toad and other scientific research
as well as run its own program of biodiversity recording and monitoring. Focus for 2013 has
been the ongoing KTB biodiversity recording and monitoring on Nicholson Station, with
most of the resources focused on Marella Gorge. KTB have been undertaking comprehensive
invertebrate and vertebrate studies in an effort to record as much data as possible before the
cane toads arrive in the gorge system itself. While KTB will be recording numbers and other
information on cane toads as they arrive in the gorge they will not be removed from the
system. A six month comprehensive study will be done on the full impacts of the toads on
the recorded native vertebrate and invertebrate species.
Research Proposal for Marella Gorge.
Jordy Groffen preparing turtle traps. |
Little is known about the short term impacts of the
invasive cane toads on Australian vertebrate native
biodiversity. Almost nothing is known about the short term
impacts on invertebrate populations.
A well-researched small gorge system, not yet
invaded by cane toads, has been selected by Kimberley Toad
Busters and Kimberley Specialists to test the short term
impacts of cane toads on vertebrate and invertebrate native
species. |
Erecting Biodiversity trapping fences.
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KTB have been focusing much of their biodiversity research for 2013 on Nicholson
Station, and particularly in Marella Gorge, a unique system, approximately 4km long and
located 27km west of the Nicholson Homestead research base. Marella Gorge is known for
its rich biodiversity and particularly for its high population of freshwater crocodiles and turtles, two species very vulnerable to the direct impacts of the cane toad.
Toads are expected
to reach the Marella Gorge system in the next month. This research program is being directed by KTB Animal Scientist Jordy
Groffen and Gary Rethus, KTB Biodiversity expert and will run for a 6 months. |
The Research Objectives of the KTB Nicholson Station research program.
To determine the short term (6 months) effect of the cane toads invasion on the
amphibian, fish, bird, mammal and reptile population in Marella Gorge
- To determine which native species are affected, directly or indirectly, within 6
months of the invasive cane toad arrival?
- To determine what population level of cane toads is required before they start
to have on effect on the native wildlife in Marella Gorge?
Determine the diet and general health of this invasive cane toad frontline in Marella
gorge
- To determine if there is male colonizing front who will reach Marella Gorge
first and how soon after females begin to arrive?
- To determine how soon after the cane toads initial arrival in Marella Gorge
breeding begin?
- To determine what areas of the gorge show evidence of preferred toad
occupation and breeding?
- To determine the stomach contents of the toads in Marella gorge
- Determine the density of the lungworm parasite in the toads invading the
Marella Gorge system.
- Determine the population of male/female and size ratio of cane toads in
Marella Gorge.
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For more information on KTB research results go to our
website to read field and other reports
www.canetoads.com.au
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| Preparing trap-line fencing |
Gary Rethus recording & identifying trap contents |
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2. KTB species loss chart
KTB have compiled a table of anecdotal and scientific evidence of affected wildlife KTB has
seen in the last 9 years of being in the field toad busting.
The following list of toad impacted species is based on mostly anecdotal evidence of KTB
volunteers in the field. KTB field data is based on toad busting activities since 2005. It is
clear from the observations recorded that the impact of toads on some species is influenced
by the type of habitat system the cane toads have invaded. Uncontrolled numbers of toads
recorded by KTB in the early years of toad busting in the NT indicated that the biggest effects
on wildlife were observed where toad numbers around waterholes were initially much higher.
KTB have observed a marked decrease in species loss in areas where adult toad numbers and
subsequent breeding have been reduced.
Species
|
Effect |
Species |
Effect |
King Brown |
Numbers going down |
Pelican |
Numbers going down |
Childrens python |
Numbers appear to be
going up going up |
Magpie Geese |
Numbers do not appear to be
going down |
Black headed
python |
Numbers appear to be
going up |
Jabiru |
Numbers appear to be going
down |
Whip snake |
Numbers appear to be
going up |
Brolga |
Numbers appear to be going
down |
Western Brown |
Numbers appear to be
going up |
Straw necked Ibis |
Numbers appear to be going
down |
Keelback snake |
Numbers going up |
Lavender
Beetle |
Numbers possibly going down |
Frilled necked
Lizard |
Numbers going down |
Lady Bird Beetle |
Numbers possibly going down |
Gilbert's dragon |
Numbers going down |
Dung beetle |
Numbers going down |
Freshwater
crocodile |
Numbers going down |
Native Bee |
Numbers appear to be going
down |
Blind snake |
Numbers possibly going
down |
Bombardier beetle |
Numbers going down |
Mertens water
monitor |
Numbers going down |
General insect
activity |
Numbers going down. More
research |
Yellow spotted Monitor |
Numbers going down |
Centipede |
More research needed but
number appear to be going
down |
Tree monitor |
Numbers going up? |
Scorpion |
More research needed but
number appear to be going
down |
Sand monitor |
Numbers going down |
General beetle
family |
Numbers appear to be going
down. More research |
Gould monitor |
Numbers going down |
Grasshoppers
crickets
|
Numbers appear to be going
down. More research |
Freshwater
Turtle |
Numbers going down |
Freshwater crab |
Numbers going down |
Giant burrowing
frog |
Number going down |
Barramundi |
Numbers do not appear to be
going down |
Saltwater
crocodile |
Numbers going up |
Bait fish (stripies) |
Numbers appear to be going
down |
Water rat |
Numbers going up |
Land snails |
Numbers going down |
Black tipped or
whistling Kite |
Numbers appear to be
going up |
Northern spotted
quoll |
Numbers going down |
Kookaburra |
Numbers may be going
down |
Greater Bilby |
Numbers going down/up? |
Crows |
Numbers going up |
Domestic chickens |
Numbers going down in some
areas |
Whistling Ducks |
Numbers may be going
down. More research |
Feral Cats |
Numbers do not seem to be
effected |
Honey Bee Eater |
Numbers going down |
Dingo’s |
Numbers going down |
Birds of prey
general |
Numbers appear to be
going down. More
research |
Bilby |
Numbers appear to be going
down due to food
competition. More research |
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Victims of the cane toad. Every waterhole invaded by toads is witness to this decimation.
3. KTB “Kids at Risk” Program.
Kimberley Toad Busters have developed the Kids @ Risk Positive Outcomes Program
to address social issues within the community associated with juvenile delinquency. This
program arose from the interest and involvement of Aboriginal children to toad busting. Toad
busting appears to be the ‘glue’ that might assist many of these children to re-establish a positive link
Lake Argyle toad busting weekend
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to society and school. The program is aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour,
increasing self-esteem, creating positive leadership abilities, self-awareness, more involved
with the culture, more knowledge of the
biodiversity and increasing school attendance
amongst the youth of Kununurra. The
program supports a collaboration of agencies
such as Save the Children, Juvenile Justice,
Kununurra Police and Kununurra District
High School (and other recognised
community groups) who are currently
independently attempting to reduce the
impact of these issues on the community as a
whole. |
Cane toad educational and toad processing. |
Two successful trial weekends were run
in 2012 at one of the canoe camps on the Ord and
the other on Lake Argyle. This was followed by 6
weekend programs in 2013 at Darlu Darlu
Aboriginal Community, Lake Argyle and
Nicholson Station. KTB have also endeavoured
to work in with Rustic Pathways so that overseas
and other Australian students can actively
participate and be involved in the same activities
as the “Kids at Risk” positive Outcome Program. |
KTB plan to run longer programs at Nicholson Station
in 2014. It is proposed that these programs at Nicholson
Station will be up to 10 days at a time to enable more in-depth
and more rounded educational learning experiences for the
children involved. The youths will travel to Nicholson Station
where they will engage in toad busting activities, abseiling and
canoeing, cultural activies such as learning about country and
culture/bush foods and medicines, bush safety survival
skills,snake and other biodiversity trapping and handling,
healthy food and spiritual sessions, and a range of other
activities. Four 10 day school holiday programs at Nicholson
Station have been proposed for 2014 but their implementation
will be dependent on funding. |
 Learning how to abseil. |
4. Dana Lyons new ‘Cane Toad Muster’ release
It was a great moment when Dana Lyons, famous American environmental singer,
known for his internationally famous song “Cows with Guns” contacted Kimberley Toad
Busters and offered to help in their campaign.
Dana Lyons with Lee Scott-Virtue,
Ju Ju Wilson, Taz Lamb and Melli Wilson |
Dana heard of the incredible community efforts while still in the states and decided
that what the Kimberley community was doing in their efforts to mitigate the cane toad
impact on native biodiversity was truly amazing and wanted to
get to know and meet with the KTB and understand how and
what the Kimberley Toad Busters were actually achieving.
Dana was intrigued as it sounded to him more like a military
exercise to the cane toad issue than the sort of nvironmental
approach he was used to seeing in other parts of the world when
people were dealing with environmental threats. |
| Dana said he had no problems finding lyrics for his new song ‘Cane Toad Muster’ and
mentioned several times in interviews that one of the inspirations behind the lyrics was a
comment by Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley President
John Moulden, ‘that the Kimberley was at war with the cane
toads, and that if every man, woman and child was out there
killing toads, then the toads would be wiped out’. Interesting
as the KTB mantra is that ‘if everyone became a toad buster
the toads would be busted’. |
Dana standing in front of the KTB banner. |
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Dana spent three weeks touring the Kimberley, visiting
remote communities and towns, and discussing various
environmental and social issues that seemed to be of great
concern to the community in general and how some of these
issues were affecting the Kimberley nvironment. Dana
commented that everywhere he went, no matter whom he talked to, the energy and commitment to the need to do more to look after the Kimberley
environment was the same. He further commented that burning and cane toads were also
some of the issues that most people seemed concerned about. |
Dana’s said that he had a lot of fun composing the song and felt that he had captured
the essence of the soul of Kimberley people and the results of the efforts the Kimberley Toad
Busters had been trying to achieve. KTB feel strongly that Dana absolutely captured the
efforts of the Kimberley community.
View Dana Lyons "Cane toad muster" song composed for the Kimberley Toad Busters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n0PUbV0Q_U
5. Chronological History of the Kimberley Toad Busters.
KTB began the community fight against the cane toad in 2004, alerting government and the community of the impending arrival of cane toads in the Kimberley.
This chronological history provides a brief step by step progress and achievements of the
Communities ‘battle’ for recognition, its victories, phenomenal education program and the
media response to the Communities efforts. This is a living document.
View KTB Chronological history from 2004 - 2013
http://www.canetoads.com.au/crono.htm
For more information and/or data from this survey please go to our website
www.canetoads.com.au
Or contact us on kimberleytoadbusters@canetoads.com.au
Phonr 08 91682576 or 08 91687080.
Kimberley Toad Busters awards!
For more information on any of the articles contact:
Lee Scott-Virtue: KTB Founder & President 08 9168 7080 kimberleytoadbusters@canetoads.com.au
All donations are tax deductible.
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