Melbourne resident makes deadly discovery during a Boxing Day walk: ‘Serious threat to biosecurity’

A deadly Asian toad is posing a serious threat to wildlife and pets after it was found thousands of miles from home in Victoria.

A resident of Melbourne’s south-east was walking along the Djerring Trail near Huntingdale train station on Boxing Day afternoon when they thought it was a cane toad and scooped it up into a cup.

They reported their find to Agriculture Victoria, which has since identified the animal as an Asian blackthorn toad, an amphibian that produces a poisonous milky substance.

Wildlife or domestic animals can become seriously ill or die if they try to eat the toads, which can reproduce up to twice a year and produce up to 40,000 eggs per cycle, according to Agriculture Victoria.

Eating the skin or eggs of Asian blackthorn toads can also cause serious illness or death.

Authorities were trying to figure out how the type of toad – abundant and widespread in Southeast Asia including Bali, Thailand and Papua New Guinea – ended up in Melbourne.

“They do not occur naturally in the wild in Australia, but the species is often intercepted as stowaways at the Australian border in shipping containers and personal luggage,” Agriculture Victoria biosecurity manager Adam Kay said.

‘They are poisonous and compete with native species for food and habitat, with the potential to cause environmental impacts such as those of the cane toad in Queensland.

“This is a serious biosecurity threat and we are seeking assistance from residents and business owners in the Huntingdale area who may have information about how this toad entered the community.”

The toad was the 18th of its kind reported to Victorian authorities since 1999.

Mr Kay urged Melburnians to report any further sightings of the amphibians to Agriculture Victoria as Asian blackthorn toads were classified as pests under state law.

The toads’ milky venom had a pungent odor that could itch people’s eyes and noses, and the animal was recognizable by the raised, black and bony ridges over its eyes, which met at the nose.

The toads also had a distinct pointed snout; a prominent black border on the upper lip; black-tipped and hooked toes; visible eardrums; dry and rough skin; short hind legs with pimple-like warts on the feet and toes; and white, cream or light brown underside with black-brown spots.

The toad’s skin color could vary, but was usually light yellow-brown with raised black and wart-like spots.

The toad found in Melbourne was in poor condition and died before being properly disposed of to minimize biosecurity risks, authorities said.