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Special Episode: Invasive Species

10 min • 22 juli 2025

Ruby hands this special episode of News Time over to junior reporter Miranda whose home town in northern New South Wales is being invaded by cane toads.

Miranda also interviews experts about other invasive species in Australia like fire ants, cats and horses. We find out how they got here and what's being done to prevent them spreading further.

Quiz Questions

1.What is the scientific name for cane toads?
2.What is behind a cane toad's ear drum?
3.Which Australian state were cane toads first introduced to?
4.How did fire ants get to Australia?
5.How many native animals do cats eat every night in Australia?

Bonus Tricky Question

What year were cane toads brought to Australia?

Answers

1.Bufo marinus
2.A poison gland
3.Queensland
4.In shipping containers
5.About 8 million

Bonus Tricky Answer

1935

Special thanks to South Grafton Public School for their help with this episode.

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