Cane toad 'sausages' help wildlife

[depakid]

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Cane toads are being turned into sausages in the Northern Territory as part of a research project to help save an endangered mammal. Cane toads are being turned into sausages in the Northern Territory as part of a research project to help save an endangered mammal.

The sausages, which are made up of the minced legs of the toads, are being fed to quolls as part of the project by Sydney University and the Territory Wildlife Park. The sausages are then laced with a chemical that makes the quolls sick. Researcher Stephanie O'Donnell says the aim is to make the quolls feel ill so they will avoid eating the poisonous amphibians in the wild.

"They can't smell . They can't taste it," she said. "Basically it makes them really, really sick.

"We basically give them food poisoning and after that they just won't touch it or they will sniff the toad, run away from it or bite it and spit it out."

Results show about a quarter of the quolls will avoid a toad after eating one of the sausages.

More: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/02/2808168.htm