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🇦🇺 Australia /Environment & Climate

Wildlife carer offers $5 bounty for invasive 'sky cane toads'

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A wildlife carer in Queensland, Australia, has started a $5 bounty program for Indian mynas to protect native species.
  • The invasive birds are driving out native wildlife and can cause health issues in humans, but pest status varies across Australia.
  • Local councils and community groups are tackling the issue, with some calling for a coordinated state or national program.

In Queensland, Australia, a grassroots effort is underway to combat the invasive Indian myna, a bird described as "the cane toad of the sky." Shannon Mathes, a wildlife carer in Charleville, has personally funded a bounty program, offering $5 for each humanely caught bird. She is deeply concerned about the myna's impact on native species, stating they "drive out all of our native wildlife from all our local trees in our areas and even small mammals like our gliders, possums, small reptiles."

They're driving out all of our native wildlife from all our local trees in our areas and even small mammals like our gliders, possums, small reptiles.

— Shannon MathesA wildlife carer in Charleville, explaining the threat posed by Indian mynas to native species.

Further up the coast in Mackay, Sian Swales leads a community action group tackling the "out-of-control" pest. The local council has supported the initiative by allowing residents to borrow traps through Ms. Swales's group. However, Ms. Swales believes citizens shouldn't bear this burden alone, arguing that "something should have been done 20 years ago" and that councils should offer financial incentives. Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson stated the council cannot offer financial incentives and emphasized the need for a "coordinated approach at the state or national level."

It shouldn't take citizens to alert council and government of the problem … they need a proper program.

— Sian SwalesA community action group leader in Mackay, advocating for a more comprehensive approach to pest control.

The Indian myna, introduced to Australia in the 1860s, is recognized globally as an invasive species. It competes with native birds, damages crops, and can spread diseases. While declared a pest in Western Australia and the ACT, its status in Queensland is inconsistent, leaving local governments and community groups to manage the problem. A Department of Primary Industries spokesperson noted that a statewide program might not be significantly impactful due to the bird's widespread establishment, but local governments can take action under local law.

It just shouldn't be up to us … something should have been done 20 years ago.

— Sian SwalesExpressing frustration over the delayed action on the Indian myna issue.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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