The presenter gives a brief talk about the cane toad and how it happened to come to Australia. Like another animal introduced to our country, these toads bred like rabbits and have destroyed many species of local fauna.
Even though they are a recognised pest, they must be treated humanely and that was my main concern. I didn't want to see any of them killed after the races. In fact, they are kept and race every week. This is the hibernation period for them so when they are woken up, they're keen to move around - well that's what we were told.
There are 10 toads with numbers written on their backs. People can "buy" a toad for $5 and after each player places his/her toad in an over-turned bucket, with a hole in the centre, music heralds the start of the races (just like a horse race). The bucket is removed and the toads need to head to the low circular wall that is the barrier. Different races have different rules; first toad to get to the wall and touch it can win or first toad to land on a chalked circle may win or last toad to leave the centre circle may win.
At the beginning of each race, the toads tend to sit and do nothing. To get them moving, a spray of water is misted over them and that spurs them to hop around. Some make straight for the wall but stop just before touching it. Others hop over the low wall and are quickly put back into the circle.
The race caller and organiser keeps everyone entertained by outlining what each toad is doing. It's so funny. I'm glad that I went and I couldn't see that the toads were mistreated in any way.
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