Latest news with #NaturalIntegrityAlliance
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Calls for vehicle checks at popular Aussie island as invasive species spreads
Calls are growing for routine biosecurity checks on one of Australia's most iconic tourist islands, as concerns mount over the spread of one of the nation's most destructive invasive species. Five colonies of yellow crazy ants (YCA) have now been detected in Maryborough in Queensland, a key access point to K'gari, following earlier detections in Booral, a Hervey Bay suburb near the airport and barge terminal used by thousands of tourists. Despite more than 500,000 people visiting K'gari each year, there are currently no routine biosecurity checks in place. Traditional custodians fear that unchecked vehicles, including those of tourists, residents and four-wheel-drive users, could carry yellow crazy ants or other invasive pests across to the fragile island ecosystem. Reece Pianta from the Invasive Species Council said if left unchecked, the notorious pests have the potential to wreak economic and ecological disaster. "YCA form super colonies, but the individual ants do not bite," Pianta told Yahoo News recently. "Instead, they spray formic acid to blind and kill their prey. "And although they're tiny, they can swarm in great numbers, killing much larger animals like lizards, frogs, small mammals, turtle hatchlings and bird chicks, and reshaping entire ecosystems." Sue Sargent, chair of the Natural Integrity Alliance for K'gari, warned that the ants' growing presence on the mainland makes their arrival on the island almost inevitable without stronger biosecurity. She said the lack of preventative measures currently poses a serious threat to both tourism and native wildlife, and that the spread of the species would be devastating for K'gari. "It's extremely concerning," she told the ABC. "We're sort of lining up for a perfect storm in terms of tourism implications and [impacts] on [threatened] species … we've got no preventative measures in place at all, so it's really a matter of time. "It would be devastating for K'gari to get this species." Now, traditional custodians say vehicle checks could be one pivotal way to fight back against the spread. Invasive pest threatening to devastate Aussie communities Armyworm 'perfect storm' has lawns under threat: 'It's exponential' 'Widespread infestation' threatening pantry staples With half a million visitors travelling to the island each year — many bringing four-wheel drives, trailers, and camping gear — the risk of inadvertently transporting ants or their eggs is significant. Vehicles, especially those carrying soil, plant matter or organic debris, can easily become carriers. The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation suggested introducing a rinsing or wash-down process before vehicles board barges to K'gari, which would help dislodge any hidden insects or potential contaminants. Similar biosecurity measures are already in place in other sensitive areas across Australia, such as Tasmania and Kangaroo Island, and have proven effective in slowing the spread of pests and diseases. Advocates argue that implementing these checks at key access points like Hervey Bay and Maryborough could dramatically reduce the risk of YCA gaining a foothold on the World Heritage-listed island. Fraser Coast Regional Council said that while yellow crazy ant colonies in Maryborough have been treated, full eradication is unlikely for now. The council has a long-term plan to tackle the problem, but currently receives no state or federal funding to support its efforts. Pianta, from the Invasive Species Council, is aware of the funding issue. He warned that currently, "there is no systematic eradication effort" as there is with the better known fire ants. "Responses are left to local authorities, who struggle to find reliable funding for control efforts. There should be more reliable funding to support local councils and environment groups," he said. Australian pesticide expert David Priddy said if not stopped in their tracks, YCA could threaten Queensland with an economic catastrophe. "[They are] putting the state's sugar cane and tourism industries at risk and threatening devastating impacts on local communities," he said. YCA are believed to have entered Australia through international trade, most likely hitching a ride in cargo shipments. Native to Southeast Asia, they were first detected in Queensland in the early 2000s and have since become one of the country's most invasive species. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
ABC News
08-05-2025
- ABC News
Yellow crazy ants spread on Fraser Coast as experts issue dire warning for K'gari
Traditional owners on Australia's largest sand island say biosecurity checks are needed to stop the spread of one the world's worst invasive ant species near the World Heritage-listed area. Five colonies of yellow crazy ants have been found in the Queensland town of Maryborough, which is one of the gateways to K'gari (Fraser island). The detection follows the spread of yellow crazy ant colonies in the Hervey Bay suburb of Booral, which is near the airport and the departure point of a barge used by thousands of tourists to access K'gari every year. The 500,000 annual visitors to the island are not subject to routine checks and vehicles belonging to residents, tourists and four-wheel drive enthusiasts could transport yellow crazy ants or other invasive species to the island. Natural Integrity Alliance for K'gari chair Sue Sargent said the spread of the ants in the region meant it was inevitable they would gain a foothold on K'gari if biosecurity was not improved. "My first reaction is fear," she said. "It's extremely concerning. "We're sort of lining up for a perfect storm in terms of tourism implications and [impacts] on [threatened] species … we've got no preventative measures in place at all, so it's really a matter of time. "It would be devastating for K'gari to get this species." Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation director Conway Burns said the lack of vehicle checks meant traditional owners did not know what to expect from visitors. "We could have some kind of biosecurity set-up where we can have wash down bays where we can wash them down before they go on," he said. "It's important that we put these in place." Yellow crazy ants are believed to have originated in South-East Asia and likely arrived in Australia on cargo ships. The acid-spraying ants can form "super colonies" containing hundreds of queens and millions of ants, because they do not display aggression against one another. Their numbers exploded in the 1990s and the Queensland and federal governments committed significant resources to a successful eradication campaign in the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics. The Wet Tropics Management Authority receives $6 million in funding per year, but the federal government has not committed to maintaining it beyond mid-2026. Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said the responsibility of managing yellow crazy ants outside the Wet Tropics was the responsibility of local governments. A Fraser Coast Regional Council spokesperson said the ant colonies in Maryborough had been treated but complete eradication was "unlikely at this stage". The spokesperson said the council had "a long-term strategy aimed at eventual eradication" of yellow crazy ants in the region but did not receive any state or federal funding to support that effort. Reece Pianta from the Invasive Species Council said K'gari was no less important than the Wet Tropics and deserved the same level of funding and attention. "I am concerned that they might not have the resources to deal with this threat," he said. The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) has received a $390,000 federal grant to develop a biosecurity strategy for the island. A key aspect of the strategy is the implementation of biosecurity checks of vehicles accessing the island. BAC director Christine Royan said further funding was needed to ensure the strategy could be implemented before the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell said news of the species' spread on the Fraser Coast was "devastating". He said his department was working with the Department of Primary Industries to contain the outbreak as quickly as possible.
