AAP
Cane toads
have taken their toxic toll on top end tourist icon Katherine
Gorge, where eight freshwater crocodiles have been found floating
belly-up.
"The
Katherine Gorge is the first real tourism icon where the impact
has shown itself," Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife
Commission (PWC) conservation management officer Simon Stirrat
told AAP today.
"The
dead crocodiles have been found in the gorge proper where all
the tourist boats go and that happened this wet season, only in
the past couple of months."
The recent
sight of dead crocodiles in the picturesque gorge is regarded
as the most stark evidence to tourists so far that the toad had
gained a foothold in the NT's lush top end.
The deep gorge,
which formed the backdrop to the climax of the 1953 Charles Chauvel
movie classic Jedda, is a busy thoroughfare for tourist vessels.
Just south
of Kakadu National Park, where the toads' arrival was confirmed
only weeks ago, the gorge often provides the first glimpse of
crocodiles to the north-bound visitor.
While a crocodile
that swallows a toad will die in about an hour, recent research
suggests the pest will not have a major impact on crocodile numbers.
The PWC has
greater concern for populations of native cats, which are already
in decline, and goannas.
"A crocodile
floating belly-up in the water is something that is very noticeable,"
Mr Stirrat said.
"Most
of the impact on the native fauna probably won't be noticeable
to tourists.
"The
main impact as far as tourists are concerned will probably be
on the tourist amenities."
He said the
toads would congregate in numbers at the Katherine Gorge camp
ground, where they would be attracted to the open lawns and lights.
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