Late last year, FINIA joined the University of Queensland’s Cane Toad Challenge (CTC).

A citizen science initiative, the CTC was designed to fast-track access to innovative cane toad trapping technology invented by researchers from the University of Sydney and University of Queensland. The technology uses natural cane toad attractant chemistry (with a trap) to capture and remove cane toad tadpoles. 

BAC Biosecurity Officer, Tilly Davis, invited Lower Mary River Land and Catchment Care Group’s Don and Lesley Bradley to talk to the Butchulla Land and Sea Ranger Trainees and Supervisor, Bob Broome about cane toads and the CTC. Participants then built traps that will be used to trial the CTC’s BufoTabs on Butchulla Country.

Many hands make light work! In March, the Butchulla Land and Sea Ranger trainees worked alongside Biosecurity Officer, Tilly Davis, and Don and Lesley Bradley from Lower Mary River Land and Catchment Care group learning how to make a cane toad trap to use on Butchulla Country.

The activity was one of the last tasks completed by the trainees before completing their six-month traineeships in Conservation and Land Management (Certificate I), along with attaining a White Card and additional qualifications in First Aid & CPR, ACDC,  and Chainsaw (Level 1) – Trim and Cut Felled Trees through the program.

We congratulate all the Butchulla CALM trainees: Jymara Burns, Sharneeka Doyle, Chase Chapman, and Dakota Broome (along with Raymond Burns and Tessa Waia, Certificate I in Business) for completing the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program and wish them every success with their chosen careers.

Contributed by Sue Sargent, FINIA