Is it possible to outsmart the cane toad?

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was 1935 when the cane toad was introduced in Qld and gradually they have made their way further inland. Toads have even reached as far as the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Northern native quolls are becoming endangered and the cane toad is a big reason for this. Aboriginal Kenbi Rangers are assisting University of Technology Sydney and the Territory Wildlife park with an experimental program introduced to help save the lives of our native northern quolls. The project is taking place on Indian Island, west of Darwin. Just as our dogs suffer from contact with toads so do these beautiful quolls. Researchers noticed that quolls in Qld (where the toad population is rife) have essentially become toad-smart, in that they avoid eating cane toads. This could be because they have lived alongside toads the longest or due to genetic adaption. In addition to this, their young know how to discriminate and are also ‘toad averse’.

The project uses drinking too much alcohol as a way to explain the concept. Have you ever had too much whiskey and nowadays cannot tolerate the smell enough to drink another? Quolls have successfully been intentionally trained to be ‘toad averse’ by being fed small quantities of toad meat (just enough to make them feel ill) discouraging them from preying on toads.

The project idea is to introduce ‘toad-smart’ quolls into other areas in the hope that more toad-averse quolls will flourish as interbreeding occurs. Indian island was once free from toads but now the population has exploded.

If the science behind this project proves a measured success it might also be applied in other places and potentially with other species.

Leah & Angela O’Meara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)