What's killing frogs in Cairns?

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http://www.fdrproject.org/pages/threats.htm

The Frog Decline Reversal Project.

What's Killing Frogs in Cairns?

Although Cairns is located in a tropical climate and is not far from

World Heritage protected rainforests, Cairns itself is rather

inhospitable to amphibians. While there are isolated pockets where

frogs can still do well (for example, some streets backing onto bush

and much of Division One south of Gordonvale), overall, frogs in

Cairns are going 'down the tubes'. There are so many reasons why

which are listed below:

habitat loss for development, particularly medium and high density

residential

modified habitats, particularly the undergrounding and cementing of

creeks to create run-off drains

so-called 'hazard reduction burning' and deliberate arson of parks,

reserves and surrounding hillslopes

a large population of introduced predatory animals (dogs and cats)

insufficient permanent, clean freshwater sources

disease which is being aggravated by environmental stress

the use of pesticides and herbicides, especially near and in

waterways

climate change and drought

road kills

household accidents such as being squashed in windows, doors,

clothes hoists, awnings

being sprayed with Dettol and other chemicals intended for cane

toads

lacerations from backyard gardening equipment such as whipper-

snippers and hedge trimmers

We have even had frogs turned in to us for care that were tortured

and attacked with sticks by school children and burned by adults who

threw caustic chemicals on them to get rid of them. Occasionally, we

will receive a call from someone of Aboriginal or Islander

background to remove the frogs from their property before they take

the matter into their own hands. We act on such calls as quickly as

we can, especially after it was explained to us by one indigenous

resident that frogs, toads and reptiles are considered a " taboo " for

their culture. Another relocation we were asked to do was to remove

the frogs from a marvellous, specially built frog pond. The

distraught owner was being threatened by their neighbours who

planned to poison all the frogs if they continued calling. Rather

than see them killed, they opted to have them taken away. (Frogs are

protected wildlife in Australia and the neighbours could have been

prosected for poisoning them but that would not restore the lives of

the slaughtered frogs.)

Aside from the extent of drought and development pressures that are

decimating Cairn's frogs, it looks like attitudes about frogs and

nature also have a long way to go. To learn more about the situation

in Cairns, please read our page called Frogs and the 'Bigger

Picture'.