ALYSSA BETTS
Whack a toad tourism a must
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/06/04/153011_ntnews.html#comment
June 4th, 2010
TOURISTS and backpackers should be lured to the Territory to help terminate the cane toad scourge, Darwin's lord mayor and Frogwatch co-ordinator said.
Graeme Sawyer said there would be plenty of whack-happy visitors keen to jump on the toad bust game.
But he said past proposals by tour operators to include toad busts in their overnight camps had been knocked back.
"It's crazy ... we've had tour operators who want to do it and been denied by park rangers," he said.
Frogwatch figures estimate there are about 92 million cane toads infesting the NT, which it says are having a huge impact in their competition for food with native animals.
Mr Sawyer said the Territory could replicate the successes of the Great Toad Muster, held near the WA/NT border, which attracts volunteering tourists.
"It's a pretty amazing experience out there ... seeing these places at night, crocs in the water, there's a sense of adventure and adds to people's sense of achievement," he said.
Mr Sawyer said allowing organised tourist toad busts in places like Kakadu could be "very beneficial".
"I think it could make a massive difference to places like Gunlom (Falls)," he said.
"What I hear is there are stacks and stacks and stacks of toads that come for refuge at the water."