NORTHERN TERRITORY NEWS (Darwin, Australia) 18 August 08 Don't be a fool, kill as many cane toads as you can: Lord Mayor (Matt Cunningham)
It might be planned for April Fools Day, but the latest plot to rid the country of cane toads is no joke.
Territorians are being urged to get behind the Cane Toad Day Out, which will be held for the first time on April 1, 2009.
And while the name suggests it might involve a trip to the local wildlife park, this day out will be no picnic for the toxic toads.
Organisers are encouraging everyone who lives in cane toad-affected areas to get out and kill as many of them as they can.
The Cane Toad Day Out is the brainchild of Queensland MP Shane Knuth. Mr Knuth said there had already been great interest in the event in the Sunshine state, and he urged Territorians to get on board.
"The whole idea is we all work together as a country," he said. "They (toads) are killing our native wildlife, yet very little is done about this."
Mr Knuth said April 1 was an appropriate day for the Cane Toad Day Out.
"The reason we chose April Fools Day is because it was a foolish thing to bring them in and it was foolish not to do anything about it," he said.
Darwin Lord Mayor and FrogWatch co-ordinator Graeme Sawyer said Territorians would support any event that helped rid the Top End of cane toads.
"We will certainly chuck our hat in the ring," he said.
Mr Sawyer said FrogWatch would also be marking another significant day in the cane toad calendar next week. The organisation will hold its annual toad audit next Monday August 18.
"It's the same day the d***heads let them go in the first place," he said.
Top End residents will be encouraged to be on the look out for cane toads and register their sightings on www.frogwatch.org.au.
Frogwatch will then undertake major toad busts over the next few months as the toads flock to sparse water sources.
Don't be a fool, kill as many cane toads as you can