Toad-killing safaris could boost tourism Down Under, says mayor

MELBOURNE - Darwin’s lord mayor has stated that he believes the idea of helping terminate cane toads could lure tourists to the Northern Territory.

Graeme Sawyer said there would be plenty of whack-happy visitors keen to take part in the game, even though 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,” News.com.au quoted him as saying.

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.

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.

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 revealed.

“What I hear is there are stacks and stacks and stacks of toads that come for refuge at the water,” he added. (ANI)