Media, Outreach, Resources
The best way to engage people in conservation is to empower them with knowledge.
For all of the organisations within the Cane Toad Coalition, engagement with the community and science communication is core business. Sydney University's research on Taste Aversion has received international media attention, but for the strategy to be successful, we need to educate and communicate with the public well.
See below for media on our work, resources to download and opportunities to meet us.
Public outreach
We engage with schools, universities, indigenous communities, the general public and the media. We are dedicated not only to achieving conservation outcomes but also to education about Cane toads and other environmental issues.
Prof. Rick Shine's latest book 'Cane Toads Wars'
Rick's book chronicles the invader's history in Australia - the biology, the research, the politics!
It is available for purchase through select bookstores and HERE through the distributor - Footprint books.
Media
See media for research related to the project including latest updates on research papers etc.
Watch a segment on the work at Oombulgurri with the Balanggarra Rangers covered on the 7:30 Report
Goanna write up in Australian Geographic
Goanna Taste Aversion work on the BBC world news
Quoll trials on the ABC news
Rick Shine being awarded the Prime Minister's prize for Science for his career with Australian reptiles and conservation
Latest review on integrated methodology for combating Cane toads
Resources to download
Click on pictures to access great Cane toad resources developed for many purposes
Booklet about the Goanna
Taste Aversion research
Cane toad detailed ID checklist
Cane toad management handbook for land managers/indigenous rangers
Cane toad detailed poster with euthanasia
Current Cane toad strategy
Western Australia
Brochure on toad ID
and humane euthanasia
For teachers: Curriculum-linked resources for primary school children (year 1-3). Devleoped by the WA government.
For teachers: Curriculum-linked resources for primary school children (year 4-6). Devleoped by the WA government.
Other Cane toad Research
Due to their environmental impacts and invasion history, Cane toads have attracted a lot of research attention. In addition to research conducted by the Shine lab at the University of Sydney, see below for CTA related research from other organisations (not directly involved in this project) or more general Cane toad research.
All Cane toad research from University of Sydney
Research covering Cane toad physiology, ecology, impact and control categorised by year. Use the menu on the left to switch between categories. Links to scientific papers with a brief easy to understand summary of each. In particular:
CTA in Yellow-spotted Monitors
CTA in Blue tongue lizards
CTA in Crocodiles
Conditioned Taste Aversion in Quolls
Research on CTA in Quolls led by Associate Professor Jonathon Webb at UTS.
In NT
In WA
Summation report for NESP project
'Toad smart' Quoll breeding and reintroductions
Research on quoll genetics, quoll behaviour and possibilities for reintroduction through selective breeding led by Associate Professor Ben Phillips at Uni of Melbourne.
Quoll anti-predator behaviour - the key to a successful reintroduction
Reintroduction of quolls into Kakadu National Park
Breeding toad-smart quolls through targeted gene flow
Project Kimberley
Researchers Dr. Simon Clulow and Dr. Sean Doody conduct research on a variety of Kimberley based fauna, (notably goannas) and have demonstrated indirect cane toad impacts on lower food web levels after large goannas decline in ecosystems.
Project Kimberley official website
Indirect impact of Cane toads through goanna declines
Interesting life history research on Yellow-spotted Monitors
Various researchers
A selection of researchers working on other aspects of the Cane toad problem.
Cane toad traps and acoustic signalling - Lynn Schwarzkopf
Invasion dynamics and hydric barriers - Reid Tingley
Encroachment into the arid zone and arid zone ecology - Mike Letnic
Community groups
Various community groups have been set up in response to public concern about the Cane toad invasion. They partake in various activities and educational experiences for the community and represent an important and valuable interface between science and the general public. Ideally, community groups, scientists and policymakers should work together to maximise their effectiveness in addressing the Cane toad issue.
Frog watch in the NT
Kimberley Toad Busters in WA
Other