Freshwater crocodiles in the Kimberley region are vital to local ecosystems. They’re also a culturally significant animal for traditional owners.

Toxic cane toads were imported in to Australia almost 100 years ago. Many native animals across northern Australia, including the crocs, have fallen victim to them.

A new project has trained the crocodiles not to eat the cane toads, using behavioural ecology.

Dr Georgia Ward-Fear is a Conservation Ecologist and Research Fellow, in the School of Natural Sciences, at Macquarie University, and was part of the project.

She joined us this morning to tell us how it worked.

Related Links

Article in The Lighthouse: Scientists condition crocodiles to avoid killer cane toads

Research paper in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Taste aversion training can educate free-ranging crocodiles against toxic invaders