Australia is about to embark on a massive annual cane toad killing spree — known as the Great Cane Toad Bust — to put a dent in the numbers of this invasive pest. Now, scientists are proposing a humane method to purge the toxic toads.
Instead of bludgeoning cane toads (Rhinella marina, formerly Bufo marinus) with cricket bats and golf clubs, or poisoning them with harsh chemicals, scientists advise bagging the toads and sticking them in the fridge. The cold puts the amphibians into a state of torpor and shuts their pain receptors off. People can then transfer the toads to the freezer to finish them off humanely, said Rick Shine, a professor of biology at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.
