Nasty toad invaders halted at Cairns port

26 May 2010
DAFF10/005D

Two nasty hitchhikers have been prevented from entering Australia at a port in Queensland’s far north.

Two small exotic Black Spined Toads were spotted at Cairns after they hitched a ride in the hold of the ship Territory Trader. The freighter regularly travels between Cairns and Amampare, West Papua.

Two staff members of Northern Stevedoring Services (NSS) along with a quick response from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) stopped the unwanted pests from hopping onshore.

The Black Spined Toad (Bufo melanostichtus) is a species which is found in India, China and southern Asia, and is closely related to the Cane Toad.

Like its larger relative, the Black Spined Toad has no natural predators in Australia, but unlike the Cane Toad, the Black Spined Toad can live in cooler climates, making it an even greater biosecurity threat to Australia.

If the Black Spined Toad became established here, it could damage the nation’s natural environment by competing with native frogs and toads for food.

AQIS entomologist, Michael Gorton, who identified the toads said he was impressed that the stevedores managed to spot the toads aboard the ship, given the relatively small size of the invaders – one toad in particular was tiny.

As part of AQIS prevention methods, all containers which arrive in Cairns are placed in a ‘toad barrier’ designed to help detect any errant toads that were on the containers. Each container is washed and inspected externally and the empty containers are internally cleaned and inspected further to prevent biosecurity threats.

AQIS also regularly inspects a series of toad traps strategically placed around the Cairns port.

This latest pest find reinforces the need for anyone involved in handling international cargo, either sea or air, to be aware of unwanted arrivals and report any finds immediately to AQIS on 1800 020 504 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1800 020 504      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Note to media: A photo is available of the smaller of the two Black Spined Toads.

Media inquiries: 02 6272 3232 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              02 6272 3232      end_of_the_skype_highlighting