Cane toad class

Gumurru Marthakal Rangers and Parks and Wildlife recently completed an extensive education campaign at Galiwin’ku, Elcho Island to raise awareness of cane toads and the conservation significance of the islands.

All classes at Galwinku’s Sheperdson College were given bilingual presentations on identifying cane toads, the threat they pose to the island’s wildlife and steps to help prevent their accidental introduction. Dave Rochford from Parks’ Community Education section said that rarely had he come across a more enthusiastic group.

"I have been presenting these talks around Darwin and other mainland schools for some time, but the reality is there is little that can be done to prevent cane toads from spreading throughout. The Islands, like Elcho for example, present a real opportunity to have large areas cane toad free. Our talks were made all the better because local Yolngu rangers translated and presented their own culturally relevant examples to the Students."

During the week long exercise Marthakal and Parks rangers carried out mammal trapping and patrols searching for cane toads. “There had been several reports of cane toads on the island so we wanted to determine their extent. Night-time searches of the main roads, local swamps and the barge landing found no cane toads but many native frogs which could be mistaken as cane toads. Two reports have been verified however, one from a toad presumed washed up on the town beach and killed by local children and another killed on the road north of the community. These occurrences are worrying but we were not able to see or hear of any others. We hope the continuing efforts to raise community awareness of the issue will enable a quick response if other incursions occur,” said Bill Panton, Parks and Wildlife Officer. “We believe that the best protection from cane toads is to have high community awareness and skilled local people who can respond and communicate effectively with other Yolngu.

The visit to Galiwinku coincided with the signing of an agreement between the Marthakal Homelands Resource Centre and Parks and Wildlife. The agreement provides funds for the development of the Gumurru Marthakal Ranger Program. The program has been several months in the planning phase with workshops facilitated by the Northern Land Council’s Caring for Country Unit and involving Traditional Owners and other government departments such as AQIS, and NT Fisheries. Ocsar Datjarranga, General Manager of Marthakal Homelands said the funds would be used to Top-Up CDEP payments and provide operational expenditure for the ranger program.

“We have been waiting a long time for something like this to happen and we welcome the support provided by Parks and Wildlife. The rangers are very keen and its great to see something so positive happening. The Rangers will continue their cane toad awareness activities with Outstation and community schools and participate in the on-going monitoring of translocated Quolls to nearby islands.”

The trip has also provided some new insights to the Island’s biodiversity. With permission from Traditional Owner, Alfred Wunbaya, the Marthakal rangers set mammal traps in Rainforest and Sand dune habitats near the Dhudupu Outstation. During the trapping several Water Rats and native Mice ( Melomys burtoni) were captured. The water rats were unusual as they were well away from their preferred mangrove habitat and were inhabiting rainforest. These animals were brought back to the community and shown to elders and school children.

The water rats drew great attention as they are large and noisy with a formidable set of front teeth. No records existed of the animal on Elcho Island and it was not known to the Traditional Owners. Alfred said that he knew of many native animals on the island but had never seen this one. Other people knew it from the mainland and called it “Guthin” but had not seen it for many years. Such experiences highlight the gains to be made through co-operative activities between Yolngu and Western Scientists. —Story By Bill Panton