In 1935 the Australian government introduced 101 cane toads into far north Queensland in a bid to eradicate a species of sugar cane beetle. It is estimated that Australia is now home to 200 million cane toads.
It’s difficult to imagine a summer without the sound of cane toads purring throughout the night. There is a definite incongruity between their pleasant sound and the damage they wreak on the Australian ecosystem. The poisonous glands on each shoulder of the cane toad are responsible for the drop in numbers of snakes and lizards, fresh-water crocodiles, quolls, and birds. Their toxicity in the tadpole stage has also seen a decline in native frogs and fish. With female cane toads laying between 8,000 to 30,000 eggs at a time they have become one of Australia’s greatest environmental disasters.
The cane toad has no natural predator.
In this sound piece field recordings of cane toads have been layered alongside recordings of the spur-winged pluver, a bird which shares the same habitat as the toad.
Some local councils are fighting back by having toad culling nights. The residents band together to collect as many toads as they can and then euthanise them by placing them in their home freezers. Delicious!
Even though the sound is captivating that pesky cane toad has a lot to answer for!
Some local councils are fighting back by having toad culling nights. The residents band together to collect as many toads as they can and then euthanise them by placing them in their home freezers. Delicious!
love it!
Thanks Marco.
Nice recording.
I read it somewhere most toad species where in danger because of some infection.
Nice to know it is a misunderstanding
Just a shame that the native frogs are threatened while the exotic species is thriving.
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Ziemlich beeindruckende Audio-Aufnahme von einem riesigen Haufen Kröten.
Yes, they don’t look very nice but I’ve spent many a summer night listening to them.