Cane Toads: An Unnatural History
- 1988
- 47m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
A documentary detailing the spread of Hawaiian sugar-cane toads through Australia in a botched effort to introduce them as counter pests.A documentary detailing the spread of Hawaiian sugar-cane toads through Australia in a botched effort to introduce them as counter pests.A documentary detailing the spread of Hawaiian sugar-cane toads through Australia in a botched effort to introduce them as counter pests.
- Director
- Writer
- Stars
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 1 nomination total
Photos
H.W. Kerr
- Self - Director of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, 1933-1943
- (as Dr H.W. [Bill] Kerr)
Glen Ingram
- Self - Senior Curator Amphibia and Birds, Queensland Museum
- (as Dr Glen Ingram)
Rob Floyd
- Self - Animal Ecologist
- (as Dr Rob Floyd)
Max Ackland
- Self - Mulgrave Shire Council
- (as Councillor Max Ackland)
Bob Endean
- Self - Associate Professor of Zoology, Queensland University
- (as Dr Bob Endean)
Mike Archer
- Self - Associate Professor of Zoology, University of N.S.W.
- (as Dr. Michael Archer)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- Crazy creditsMouse sequence filmed during regular feeding routine at Kurunda Wildlife Gardens.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Minus Man (1999)
- SoundtracksCane Toad Blues
by Tim Finn
Featured review
Comments from an amphibianaphile.
Fairly interesting documentary about the deliberate introduction of the Giant toad (Bufo marinus) or Cane toad as it is called here, into Australia and the ecological havoc it has wrought there. It seems years ago, scientists thought this toad would help control pests that were destroying Australia's sugar cane crop. The toads did little to control the pests that were destroying the sugar cane crops, but they did manage to survive and thrive, reproducing in great numbers. They have brought havoc on local wildlife ever since. This could serve as a future warning to any scientist who gets the brilliant idea of introducing a new species to area it is not native.
While I found this documentary interesting and fun to watch, as an amateur naturalist with an interest in amphibians, a lot of important information about this creature was left out. For example, the film states the toad was introduced from Hawaii into Australia. It never mentions that Cane toads were also introduced into Hawaii, and are not a native species there either (Hawaii has no native amphibians.) Bufo marinus is a native of Latin America. For the record: its natural range extends from Patagonia north, throughout much of South and Central America, into central Mexico, where its range extends through a narrow band into to Northern Mexico where the toads natural range just enters the United States in the Big Bend region of Texas. The film also doesn't mention these toads had little effect on pests destroying the sugar cane crop in Hawaii either. Nor does it mention they were introduced in Florida for the same reason, with little positive effect there as well. With this toads introduction being a failure in so many places, I was hoping this film would raise a few questions on just what was going on in the heads of all those scientists back in early 20th century who spread this creature all over the world.
While I found this documentary interesting and fun to watch, as an amateur naturalist with an interest in amphibians, a lot of important information about this creature was left out. For example, the film states the toad was introduced from Hawaii into Australia. It never mentions that Cane toads were also introduced into Hawaii, and are not a native species there either (Hawaii has no native amphibians.) Bufo marinus is a native of Latin America. For the record: its natural range extends from Patagonia north, throughout much of South and Central America, into central Mexico, where its range extends through a narrow band into to Northern Mexico where the toads natural range just enters the United States in the Big Bend region of Texas. The film also doesn't mention these toads had little effect on pests destroying the sugar cane crop in Hawaii either. Nor does it mention they were introduced in Florida for the same reason, with little positive effect there as well. With this toads introduction being a failure in so many places, I was hoping this film would raise a few questions on just what was going on in the heads of all those scientists back in early 20th century who spread this creature all over the world.
helpful•143
- youroldpaljim
- Mar 30, 2002
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By what name was Cane Toads: An Unnatural History (1988) officially released in Canada in English?
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