Toads get caning

Cane toad 'sausages' help wildlife
 abc

Cane toads are being turned into sausages in the Northern Territory as part of a research project to help save an endangered mammal. ,,,

"We basically give them food poisoning and after that they just won't touch it or they will sniff the toad, run away from it or bite it and spit it out."

Results show about a quarter of the quolls will avoid a toad after eating one of the sausages.

For anyone who doesn't know, this is a cane toad:



And this is a quoll.



Quolls are fierce little marsupial carnivores. We'd like to keep them. Cane toads are introduced poison squirting nasties that are taking over the top end of OZ. They eat anything smaller than they are or poison anything that eats them. New methods for their destruction are always being avidly sought. For example:

Cane toads for dinner?
abc

South-west Queensland meat processor John Burey is travelling to China next month to negotiate a deal to start exporting cane toads for human consumption. Mr Burey says the hated toad's poison is highly prized in Chinese medicine and the meat is also eaten in some parts of the country.

You really have to admire that sort of entrepreneurial style. I wonder if there is a market for free range rabbit in China? Not to mention feral goats, pigs, buffalo and maybe even camels.