Toad Day Out
Encyclopedia
Toad Day Out is a pest control
event which takes place in Queensland
, Australia on the 29 March each year. Its focus is to reduce the population of the invasive species Cane Toad
. The toads are caught live and unharmed. The day was originally advocated by politician Shane Knuth
.
Toads are captured and taken to be humanely destroyed with prizes awarded for children who find the heaviest toads, and schools which capture the most amount of toads (by weight). Before they are destroyed the toads are inspected, weighed and bagged. Most end up being turned into fertilizer, some are used for research and a few have been stuffed by a taxidermist.
The cane toad has been a pest since it was introduced to Australia in 1935. It was hoped the toad would control the spread of the cane beetle
. A national eradication program has been ruled out due to a lack of resources and technology.
Pest control
Pest control refers to the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest, usually because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person's health, the ecology or the economy.-History:...
event which takes place in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia on the 29 March each year. Its focus is to reduce the population of the invasive species Cane Toad
Cane Toad
The Cane Toad , also known as the Giant Neotropical Toad or Marine Toad, is a large, terrestrial true toad which is native to Central and South America, but has been introduced to various islands throughout Oceania and the Caribbean...
. The toads are caught live and unharmed. The day was originally advocated by politician Shane Knuth
Shane Knuth
Shane Andrew Knuth is an Australian politician. He has represented the seats of Charters Towers and Dalrymple in the Queensland Legislative Assembly, for the National Party , the Liberal National Party and Katter's Australian Party .Knuth was born in the Queensland town of Tully...
.
Toads are captured and taken to be humanely destroyed with prizes awarded for children who find the heaviest toads, and schools which capture the most amount of toads (by weight). Before they are destroyed the toads are inspected, weighed and bagged. Most end up being turned into fertilizer, some are used for research and a few have been stuffed by a taxidermist.
The cane toad has been a pest since it was introduced to Australia in 1935. It was hoped the toad would control the spread of the cane beetle
Cane beetle
The cane beetle, Dermolepida albohirtum, is a native Australian beetle and a pest of the sugar cane. Adult beetles eat the leaves of sugar cane but greater damage is the done by their larvae hatching underground and eating the roots, which either kills or stunts the growth of the plant.Larvae,...
. A national eradication program has been ruled out due to a lack of resources and technology.
External links
- Toad Day Out. Townsville City Council.