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Black Mambas To Fight Cane Toads? Which Is Worse?


sandgrubber
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I thought this was a joke when I came across it . . .but conclude it's dead serious. Not sure which is worse for dogs. Looks like a very bad idea to me.

http://www.burdekinherald.com/2014/01/23/government-to-introduce-22-000-black-mambas-to-help-eradicate-cane-toads/

Government to introduce 22 000 Black Mambas to help eradicate cane toads

In an effort to help stop the spread of cane toads, the state government has partnered with the Burdekin Shire Council to introduce up to 22 000 Black Mambas into farms and urban backyards around the Burdekin.

Burdekin Shire Council Animal Management Secretary William Matevellio said the highly venomous snakes will help reduce the population of the cane toad, a pest that causes millions of dollars of damage each year, “These cane toads cost farmers and businessman millions each year and they’re a huge annoyance to local residents because they’re weird looking and they’re just f***ing everywhere.”

Premier Campbell Newman has stated that the introduction of the Black Mamba made ‘good business sense for Queensland’, “It’s a good decision, and a great example of how local government and state government can work together to deliver solutions to businesses and farmers.”

The Black Mamba, a snake native to northern Africa is among the most venomous, fastest and aggressive in the world with a bite that can kill a human in 13 minutes. Mr Matevellio said the jury was still out on whether the Black Mamba will hunt the cane toads, “Currently, there is no evidence that these snakes hunt cane toads, so this is just a trial. I can’t make any promises that the toad population will be reduced. We’ll have to wait and see.”

The introduction begins on the 29th of January and Council has told residents to be cautious when walking around their yards and homes. Council has also instructed residents to keep pets locked up inside until further notice.

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:D Ha ha! Joke's on me. :D

Well, I was reading it in total disbelief and composing my response in my head as I went.

What a relief to find it is a hoax.

But let's face it: governments do some pretty damned awful and weird things, so I can't feel I am entirely stupid to have not picked it as a hoax. LOL.

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It's an episode of The Simpsons!

Wikipedia excerpt:

Bart and Marge take the lizards to the Springfield Birdwatching Society. Principal Skinner, a member of the society, explains that they are Bolivian tree lizards, a type of lizard that steals a bird’s eggs and leaves their own eggs to be watched after by the mother bird, which is then eaten by the offspring once they hatch. Skinner says the lizards must be killed by law, because they have killed many bird species. Bart escapes and runs away with the lizards, but before he can get away, Skinner catches up to him and they both struggle on top of the building. Suddenly, the lizards glide to the ground, where they start to eradicate pigeons in Springfield. Since the town considered the pigeons to be a nuisance, they are delighted with the fact that the lizards have eaten all the pigeons. As a result, Bart is thanked and honored by Mayor Quimby with a loganberry scented candle. Lisa worries that the town will now become infested by lizards rather than the pigeons, but Skinner assures her that they will send in Chinese Needle Snakes, then snake-eating gorillas, and then "when wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death."

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_the_Mother

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:D Ha ha! Joke's on me. :D

Well, I was reading it in total disbelief and composing my response in my head as I went.

What a relief to find it is a hoax.

But let's face it: governments do some pretty damned awful and weird things, so I can't feel I am entirely stupid to have not picked it as a hoax. LOL.

If your moorings are in WA, you tend to believe every weird and dubious thing you hear about QLD :)

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