Kimberley Toad Buster's

News Letters

The aim of this website is to document the Kimberley Toad Busters fight to stop the cane toad crossing into Western Australia and to provide the Western Australian Community some understanding of the enormous efforts (and contributions) that can be made by unpaid volunteers!

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Prepared by Lee Scott-Virtue, President & Founder of KTB Kimberley Toad Busters.

IMBERLEY TOAD BUSTERS NEWSLETTER 43:


September 12/2011

The Cane Toad is a Key Threatening Process to the Australian Nation

Declared by the Federal Government 12 April 2005

KTB Newsletter

This 43rd 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 against the cane toad by supporting www.canetoads.com.au raising funds and supporting cane toad scientific research.

Prepared by Lee Scott - Virtue President & Founder of Kimberley Toad Busters

KTBs are a tax deductible entity. Please see our website for our direct donation facility or how to sponsor toad busting 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

United Nations Association of Australia
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY AWARDS 2011. KTB finalists in 3 sections. The Department of Sustainability and Environment Biodiversity Award.
The Community Award
and the Sustainability Education Award
Winner for the second year in the Community Award.

inalist in the 2011 East Kimberley Aboriginal Achievements Awards in the category of Outstanding Organisation/Program contributing to Community Life.
Finalist in the 2011 Banksia Awards in the category Indigenous-Caring for Country

Extracts from “Press Releases’ put out by KTB Field & Education Coordinator
Ben Scott - Virtue.

Toad Bunkers!
It’s not often that Kimberley Toadbusters intrepid field teams come upon something that really raises eyebrows. ‘Bufo Marinus’ is renowned for flouncing commonly regarded views. Suffice to say that in this case the whole ‘cat in the box’ philosophical debate takes on a whole new meaning. Just because a termite mound is completely sealed doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t harbour a nasty secret.

Broken termite mound with toads hibanating deep within the mound.

After a night on the Northern foreshore of Lake Argyle, a KTB field team accompanied by the cream of Derby’s ‘Bushranger’s broke camp and, unintentionally, a termite mound in the process. Initial surprise soon gave way to unified horror as not just one, but four toads were found within.

“Understanding just how varied the impact of toads are, how unbelievably resilient and hardy they continue to prove to be highlights the need for bright young minds to pour their energy into finding a true solution” Danielle Taylor, Derby District High School Science Teacher and KTB volunteer was heard to have said after the toads unearthing.

“The true incentive remains keeping our wonderful biodiversity intact with the consequences of inaction too scary to contemplate” she added.

“Having ‘toad busting’ teams in the field on a nightly basis has unearthed a veritable treasure trove of new information” said Ben Scott-Virtue, field coordinator for KTB “.He further commented. “By continuing to share this information with scientists and researchers alike we can only hope that we are edging ever closer to finding that elusive ‘silver bullet’ or ‘Achilles heel’ for the toad”

The last quote however goes to Kim Scott, Ex SAS and laconic KTB volunteer
“Saddam Hussein, Mubarak, Hitler and Osama bin laden all tried bunkers, why would the toad be any different? Funny enough the outcome continues to prove to be much the same.”

In line with Kimberley Toad Buster policy the toads found within the termite mound were humanly euthanized using CO2 and disposed of accordingly, bringing the total of toads now disposed of by Kimberley Toad Busters over a period of almost 7 years close to 2,000,000.

“Concentrated Effort”

Kimberley Toadbusters has now had a long and fruitful working relationship with many Indigenous organizations, communities and individuals. It has been recognized now that the toad does indeed affect the lives of many that use ‘bush tuckers’ to supplement an otherwise Western diet.
“The toads increasing colonization of pristine wilderness requires urgent attention” said Lee Scott-Virtue, President and founder of KTB. “We have long known the toad takes out the top predators within the environment early on in their encroachment.

What is now evident is that there are cultural consequences to inaction”

Ju Ju Wilson. Photo by B Scott- Virtue.

“We been out bush looking, but it’s getting real hard to find them” said Ju Ju ‘Burawee’ Wilson, Aboriginal Elder, KTB Board member and volunteer Toad Buster. “The goanna’s are getting scarcer. There are just no tracks. Even the bush Turkey’s getting harder to see!” she
exclaimed.

“What? We got Christmas coming up and no turkeys? Awe c’mon peoples, we got to get them toads’ exclaims Tyreece Wilson, grandson of Ju ju and talented 7 year old Toad Buster.

“Partnerships with juvenile justice both at a preventative and corrections level, the DEC’s ‘Bushranger’ program as well as a continued commitment to provide information, education as well as provide toad Busting activities to the broader community can only help at an environmental, social and cultural level” states Norma Wainwright, Author and long time volunteer for KTB “This is a fight that involves every generation regardless of ethnic or cultural background”

Here at Toad HQ, we see many positive facets in what can otherwise be a very demoralising situation. Never has there been a community that has bound together such divergent backgrounds to the simple task of negating a toad’s influence on the environment. We hope this continued ommitment lasts the length of time needed for our scientists or researchers to come up with a true solution.

TB Field & Education Coordinator providing classroom education on cane toads and introducing students to the KTB “What’s in your Backyard?” program.

“Cane Toads, TAP and where's the ‘green’ in Bob Brown?"

For many years now Kimberley Toad Busters has been active in forming partnerships with organizations and individuals that have the same vision of keeping
toad population numbers under control and mitigating the cane toad.s influence on our wonderful iconic fauna. These partnerships have been by and large win win. affairs whereby both parties gain from the knowledge and experience with the biggest beneficiary, our wildlife, continuing to get that much- needed helping hand.

In the same light, there have been difficulties with a few governmental agencies. Often, through no fault of their own they have had a quagmire of bureaucratic red tape, paperwork and petty power plays to work through not to mention being dictated to by some senior officials based in the south with no real understanding of our northern landscapes and or the reasons why Kimberley ad Buster volunteers work so hard to control cane toad numbers.

KTB.s field Coordinator, Ben Scott-Virtue relocating a „fresh water. crocodile and the results of just one bust. along the cane toad.s southern corridor of movement towards KTB.s southern depot, Nicholson Station.

“Anyone would think that the benefit gained from community efforts to keep toad population numbers under control was rocket science rather than common sense!” exclaimed Ben Scott-Virtue, KTB Field and Education Coordinator. “The recent release of the Federal Governments Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) reinforces an appalling ignorance of the results and benefits of community actions in the cane
toad fight” he further stated.

Dean Goodgame added “how hard is it to understand that by removing the cane toad
from the eco-system you are helping our own native fauna at both a direct and
indirect level. Reduced and controlled toad population numbers means reduced
native animal loss and a reduced impact on the invertebrate food chain. There are
many native species in decline that do not prey upon toads, but need the same invertebrate base that cane toads eat so it is pretty clear about what happens when
food begins to run out because toads have eaten it all”.

Euthanaised toads ready for burial!

“Colin Barnett might cop a bit of stick but one thing is for sure, he and most of his State ministers get.
the scale of the problem our wildlife face, and they continue to be willing to not just provide support verbally, but through true action” added John Cugley, Administrative Coordinator KTB.

“What I want to know is why after six years of this fight we have yet to see either a single Greens
member or a National Party representative out with us in the field? Heavens, one would have thought this should have been a priority before writing a document like TAP!” claimed Norma Wainwright, 80yr old KTB Treasurer and volunteer.

“Just read the lates t incarnation of the ‘TAP (Threat abatement plan), community groups no help?’ What a load of crap! They need to wake up and smell the roses. Come to Kununurra and see what a whole community has not only done, but continues to do!” said Tim Leary, KTB volun teer and team leader.

Here at Toad HQ we are going to let the final quote go to Bob Brown, leader of the federal Greens Party.

“In securing the future of the planet, we secure happiness for ourselves. One of the aims of the Greens is to turn around the tide of pessimism amongst the young people of the world.” Well Bob, our glass of milk looks distinctly half empty…

 

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
Ben Scott-Virtue: KTB Field Co-ordinator 08 9168 2576 fieldcoordinator@canetoads.com.au
John Cugley: KTB Administration Co-ordinator 08 9168 2576 admin@canetoads.com.au
www.canetoads.com.au
All donations are tax deductible.