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06/01//10
Cane toad front line inches closer to Kununurra
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Kimberley Toad Busters encounter another serious environmental threat to the Kimberley: Blind State Government Bureaucracy!
Kimberley Toad Busters have been using exposure to carbon dioxide for euthanasia of over 500,000 cane toads for the last five years in the Northern Territory. Earlier in the year as cane toads first crossed the border into WA the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) banned the use of carbon dioxide by DEC officers and announced they did not support use of the method until further trials were conducted. Sadly, as another wet season breaks in the Kimberley there is still no resolution to how Kimberley Toad Busters can (humanely) bust a toad. |
“We have been successfully using this technique for five years now, why when the cane toads are less than 30 km from Kununurra and the first major wet season rains are falling would government agency scientists prevent volunteers from using the only method suitable for large scale euthanasia of cane toads that is safe for volunteers?” Lee Scott-Virtue, Volunteer toad buster, Founder and President, Kimberley Toad Busters.
“Our DVD of the procedure clearly shows the toads are anesthetized immediately when carbon dioxide is applied without signs of stress, these toads remain unconscious until their death. How this method could not be considered humane is beyond my comprehension” Sister Dell Collins, Volunteer toad buster, Kimberley Toad Busters.
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The decision that CO2 is an inhumane method of euthanasia was made by DEC scientist Peter Mawson, with his trials based on a laboratory situation using only 4 toads. KTB, in field conditions have used CO2 on over 500,000 toads and produced a DVD proving that the method is effective and humane. |
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Sister Dell Collins shows a young Kimberley Toad Buster how she uses a portable compressed gas cylinder to apply carbon dioxide to cane toads. Copyright KTB. |
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The decision that CO2 is an inhumane method of euthanasia was made by DEC scientist Peter Mawson, with his trials based on a laboratory situation using only 4 toads. KTB, in field conditions have used CO2 on over 500,000 toads and produced a DVD proving that the method is effective and humane.
“I cannot but be amazed at the ridiculous bureaucracy that surrounds this issue particularly when one bureaucratic scientist can ignore the KTB DVD and hold up further field trials without justifiable reason” Bruce Russell KTB Board member, Volunteer toad buster, Kimberley Toad Busters.
As a concession to a delay in further field trials the Department of Conservation and Environment and Department of Local Government and Regional Planning have allowed the temporary use of carbon dioxide in Western Australia, and while initially requesting that toad busters then use blunt trauma for brain destruction, it has been conceded by DEC that this will not be required for the moment.
“I will not go toad busting and definitely not take children toad busting if we have to bash the cane toads on the head. It does not encourage them to be kind and care for all animals, even cane toads. It is not the cane toads fault he is killing our wildlife, it is ours.” Gorgina Wilson, Indigenous Team Leader, Kimberley Toad Busters.
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Why is a resolution of this simple issue taking such a ridiculously long time? Answer: Middle level management within DEC appears to be blind to the urgency of the situation and have suggested methods that are totally inappropriate for use on large numbers of cane toads and by volunteers. |
“The approved government methods for euthanasia of cane toads are lethal injection, cooling followed by freezing and instantaneous destruction of the brain using blunt trauma. These methods are simply not practical for the continued long term removal of cane toads from the Kimberley, we are not talking about a couple of toads here, we are talking about millions, until a more effective method of control(biological or otherwise) is found. Presently, physical removal of cane toads is the only method of control we have.” Ruth Duncan, Volunteer toad buster and Education and Biodiversity coordinator, Kimberley Toad Busters.
“Put simply the use of carbon dioxide currently offers the most humane method of euthanasia for large numbers of cane toads and is the method that minimises the OH&S risk of exposure to cane toad toxin for Kimberley Toad Busters staff and volunteers.” John Cugley, KTB Administrative Coordinator Kimberley Toad Busters. |
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“Kimberley Toad Busters has received good support from Department of Conservation and Environment employees in Kununurra. They find themselves hamstrung when they come across a large number of cane toads. The method they are allowed to use, stunning followed by brain destruction, does not allow large numbers of toads to be euthanized during a toad bust. Instead they call on KTB to head out there with our volunteers and carbon dioxide. They need to be able to use carbon dioxide as well if we have any hope of managing cane toads long term.” Ben Scott-Virtue, Volunteer toad buster and Field coordinator, Kimberley Toad Busters.
Corrin Everitt and Daryl Moncrief, from the
Department of Conservation and Environment in Kununurra have been working with the Kimberley Toad Busters to establish a field trial of the method and finally resolve this issue by gaining approval from the WA AEC. Unfortunately, best intentions to have the issue resolved before this wet have failed to be supported by DEC middle level management in Perth. This must leave local DEC officers in an incredibly frustrating position. Lee Scott-Virtue, Volunteer toad buster, Founder and President, Kimberley Toad Busters.
Photo: A large male cane toad feasting on lady bugs at the edge of Lake Argyle (WA). Copyright KTB. |
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KTB MEDIA RELEASE 10-01-10
Use of the photos in this media release must be authorised by the KTBs and the photographer acknowledged
For more information contact:
Lee Scott-Virtue, .KTB Founder and President ...........08 9168 7080
Ruth Duncan, .......KTB Environmental Scientist .........08 91682576 / 0400 767650
Ben Scott-Virtue, .KTB Field Coordinator ...................08 91682576
John Cugley,.........KTB Administrative Coordinator ...0427550331
Follow the following links for more feedback on this topic
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