Cane toads threaten rare crocodile population

North Australian environmentalists say time is running out to save a rare miniature crocodile from extinction.

Ten dead freshwater crocodiles have been discovered in a remote billabong on Auvergne Station near the Northern Territory and Western Australia border.

Post-mortem results showed they died from eating cane toads.

Toadbuster volunteer Sandy Boulter says the rare pygmy crocodile on Bullo River Station further west may suffer a similar fate.

"It doesn't matter the size of the animal, the toxin of the cane toad will kill all of our Australian fauna. Birds, fish, reptiles.

"Cane toads are mighty clever, vigorous little animals and ... they are only 20 kilometres from the pygmy crocodile population."

Toads moving on Kununurra

The Friends of the Kimberley Toadbusters group say almost forty cane toads have also been found on Newry Station, about fifty kilometres from the Northern Territory - Western Australia border.

The group says it's the first time large numbers of male toads have attempted to colonise this close to Kununurra.

Volunteer Sandy Boulter says the pest could reach Western Australia by the end of the year.

"One of (our) teams found three male toads in the culvert beside the Victoria Highway in Fish Creek.

"Five kilometres back they found 32 males and this is the closest that we have found the cane toads on the Victoria Highway corridor."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/04/2153535.htm

Wow.

Man made problem again..