Australia Maintains Strict Quarantine Regulations As Traveler Brings Dead Black-Spined Toad In His Shoe Back From Indonesia - via Herp Digest

(Authorities believe the passenger was unaware that he was carrying the amphibians and were not smuggling wildlife.)

The Science Times, by Earth Das, 5/12/17

Australia urged travelers to check their luggage, after the discovery of hitchhiking toads in the baggage of some passengers. The quarantine authorities take this step to maintain strict quarantine regulations.

The quarantine authorities in Australia have recently asked the travelers to check their luggage and belongings properly. Just a few days ago the authorities detected one dead Indonesian toad in the shoe of a passenger after he arrived at the airport. It is believed that the authorities want to avert any kind of biohazards.

Phys.org reported that toads from Thailand and Indonesia were found very recently at three important airports in Australia. The Department of Agriculture of Water Resources warned all the travelers to check their belongings after these recent incidents. Authorities believe the passengers were surely unaware that they were carrying these amphibians and were not smuggling wildlife.

A biosecurity officer at the Cairns Airport in Australia discovered a black-spined dead toad from the shoe of an Australian. Most probably the toad was earlier alive and later died only when the passenger wore the shoe in Indonesia. Lyn O'Connor, department's head of biosecurity, stated the fact.

Another similar incident happened at the Perth Airport in Australia when a flight came from Thailand. Officers detected one live banded bullfrog in the shoe of that passenger. So far no official words are available about whether the passenger was actually wearing the shoe or packed it in the luggage.

A black-spined toad was also found in a woman's luggage when she arrived at the Melbourne Airport in Australia. The passenger was coming from Thailand and interestingly, this time the amphibian was alive. According to Lyn O'Connor, this kind of toad could carry the exotic parasites and can damage the Australian environment.

The Mail Online reported that the black-spined toad is actually related to the cane toad, and this amphibian has no natural predators in Australia. The Department of Agriculture revealed that the toad can create potential damage. This carnivore amphibian could compete with the native toads and frogs for the habitats and food. In a word, their presence can create severe environmental problems.

Australia always maintains strict quarantine regulations to prevent the infiltration of the pests and the diseases that can destroy the unique wildlife of the country. Several past incidents have proved this fact. Now the recent incident once again shows the existence of the tough quarantine policies.