Toad-ally airborne find by returning traveler

14 March 2023

A quick-thinking South Yarra local has helped to protect our unique flora and flora from a variety of biosecurity risks, after finding a cane toad stowed away in his luggage following a trip to Fiji.

Agriculture Victoria Leading Biosecurity Officer Emily Hill said the resident acted quickly and smartly by contacting Zoos Victoria veterinary department to report the sneaky stowaway.

“Agriculture Victoria Biosecurity Officers were able to identify it as a cane toad (Rhinella marinus),” she said.

“The cane toad is not native to Australia and has established across large parts of our country.

“Cane toads compete with native frogs and toads for food and suitable habitat and their poison glands are a risk to native mammals and pets if ingested.”

Ms Hill said as a species entering from overseas it also had the potential to carry exotic parasites and diseases.

“Cane toads are prolific in northern Australia and in Victoria four to 10 are detected as stowaways every year.

“This detection from Fiji is a timely reminder of the ongoing risk of exotic species entering Australia and Victoria from overseas.”

Ms Hill said exotic pest animals entering from overseas are usually found in shipping containers, machinery and personal items like bags and shoes.

“We are very grateful to this member of the public for their quick thinking in reporting the toad to Zoos Victoria, who then passed the information on to us at Agriculture Victoria.”

“We all need to work together to ensure we keep Victoria safe from exotic pests like cane toads and the public have a massive role in helping us protect our unique biodiversity,” she said.

The toad was in poor health and was humanely euthanised by Melbourne Zoo vets.

Found a hitchhiker in your bag post international trip?

Any exotic vertebrate pest animal found or sighted in Victoria must be reported to Agriculture Victoria. You can make a report a number of ways.

Email: highrisk.invasiveanimals@agriculture.vic.gov.au, or use our online exotic pest animal reporting tool on the Agriculture Victoria website.

You can also call Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 and more information on exotic pest animals can be found at agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-animals.

Media contact: Justine Severin

Phone: 0436 674 804