Date: May 26, 2015
Source: University of Sydney
Like
many pests, cane toads are killed in their thousands in Australia every
year, especially by community-based 'toad-busting' groups. New research
has now revealed the most humane way to do it.
"We
need to offer a humane death to the toads -- it's not their fault they
were brought to Australia 80 years ago -- but until now nobody has been
sure how to do it," said Professor Rick Shine, from the University of
Sydney's School of Biological Sciences.
He
is lead author on research showing that a once-popular method,
currently outlawed nationally and internationally by animal ethics
committees as inhumane, is actually a simple and ethical way to kill a
toad. The research by the University of Sydney, Monash University and
the University of Wollongong is published today in the journal Biology
Open.
The
researchers implanted small data-loggers in the brains of cane toads to
measure any pain responses. They then put the toads into a refrigerator
for a few hours, before transferring them to a household freezer. The
toads quietly slipped into unconsciousness as they froze, and their
brains did not register any evidence of pain during the process.
Professor
Shine said: "This procedure was a widespread method for humanely
killing amphibians and reptiles for many years until about 20 years ago,
but animal ethics committees decided it was inhumane because the
animals' toes might freeze while their brains were still warm enough to
detect pain. However, our work shows that in cane toads at least, the
toad just drifts off into torpor as it cools down, and its brain is no
longer functioning by the time its body begins to freeze."
Researchers
generally kill animals like cane toads humanely by using specialised
chemicals, but these chemicals are not available to the general public.
The research provides a simple solution to a difficult dilemma for the
Australian community in areas that struggle with large populations of
cane toads, such as in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, the
Darwin region of the Northern Territory, and coastal Queensland.
"Current
ethics regulations recommend that the general public kill cane toads by
hitting them on the head with a hammer -- but a slight misjudgement may
result in severe pain for the toad, and a splash of toxic poison up
into the hammer-wielder's eyes," Professor Shine said.
"Popping
toads into the fridge for a few hours to cool down then moving them to
the freezer beside the ice cream is kinder and safer for everyone
involved."
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by University of Sydney. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
- Richard Shine, Joshua Amiel, Adam J. Munn, Mathew Stewart, Alexei L. Vyssotski and John A. Lesku. Is “cooling then freezing” a humane way to kill amphibians and reptiles? Biology Open, 2015 DOI: 10.1242/%u200Bbio.012179
Cite This Page:
University of Sydney. "What is the most humane way to kill a cane toad?." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 May 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150526110555.htm>.
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