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Toads
· 102 cane toads were introduced to Australia in 1935. There are now more than 1.5 billion of them.
· The toads now occupy over 1 million square kilometres (620 000 square miles) of territory.
· In 2010, the cane toads have advanced as far west as Kununurra, just inside the Western Australian border. This is a distance of about 2,424 km or 1,506 miles.
· Cane toads have an especially strong drive to mate and have been observed in their over enthusiasm mating with rocks, clumps of dirt, human feet and roadkill.
· Cane toads mostly eat insects, but they will eat anything that fits into their mouths – living or dead. Analysis of a cane toad’s stomach contents has revealed various insects, rocks, sticks, small
mammals and other cane toads.
· In 2007 ‘Toadzilla’ was captured in the Northern Territory. He was 20.5cm long and weighed 840 grams
(1.9 pounds).
· In 1988, Dr Glenn Ingram, a Queensland Museum zoologist, was given an enormous cane toad called
Big Bette. Big Bette measured 22cm (8.6 inches) in length and weighed 1.8 kilos (4 pounds) - about the
same weight as a Chihuahua.
· In 1975, a submission was made to the Guinness Book of Records about a cane toad from Proserpine, QLD. Gerty allegedly weighed 3 kilograms (6.61 pounds) and was raised on a diet of beer. Aftder Gerty died the Guinness adjudicators rejected the record claim due to lack of evidence.
· Cane toads are extremely hardy and have been observed hopping out of bush fires, climbing out of freshly tamped hot tar and hopping away after being impaled or run over.
· In 2008, a cane toad named Spew survived for 40 minutes in a dog’s stomach after being swallowed whole. Dog and toad were unharmed.
· The RSPCA suggests that the most humane way to kill a toad is refrigeration. To do this, put on a pair of gloves and catch the toad. Put the toad in a plastic bag or container, seal it up, then refrigerate 12 hours. The toad will go to sleep. Next, put the bag into the freezer for at least 24 hours and the toad will die painlessly.
· At one point the RSPCA recommended dispatching the toads humanely by smearing them with hemorrhoid cream. This method did not gain popularity.
· A Queensland University academic estimated that more than 200 tons of cane toad flesh is squelched on Queensland roads each year.
· Prince Charles and Lady Diana were given a book bound in cane toad skin leather as a wedding present. Charles, in his “thank you” letter, said it would give them much pleasure in their married life.
· Toad venom is so potent that it will quickly dispatch with a 9 Foot Crocodile.
· Vets have recorded cases of clever domestic dogs consistently licking the toads in controlled doses
in order to enjoy the effects of the venom.