Help! Australia is Being Invaded! Quiz

Answer: Prickly pear

58 rabbits were released into the Victorian bush in 1859 for hunting. At the peak of the rabbit plague, there were estimated to be 10 billion rabbits in Australia. Fences were built to prevent the spread of rabbits from one state to another, but were not particularly effective.

Answer: Bufo marinus

In 1935, cane toads were imported into Australia to control a beetle that was destroying sugar cane crops. The cane toad has proved to be toxic to native wildlife, and bred to plague proportions, spreading over Queensland, into New South Wales and the Northern Territory and in 2009, reaching northern Western Australia.
Bufo margaritifer is known as the Leaf Toad, and Bufo speciosis as the Texas Toad, while Bufo bufo is the Common Toad.

Answer: Jarrah

All trees mentioned are native to Western Australia, but Jarrah is most severely affected by what was originally known as "Jarrah Dieback".
It is principally spread by humans and vehicle movement.
Marri is otherwise known as Red Gum, Mungart as Jam Tree, and Wandoo as White Gum.

Answer: Patterson's Curse

Several biological control methods are being used on this weed. In certain areas, whole paddocks are turned blue in springtime when the weed is in flower.

Answer: Salmon pink

Cape tulip is unpalatable to livestock, and invades both bush and pasture. One control method is spraying, and biological controls are also being developed. Weed control costs Australian farmers millions of dollars annually.
It is one of many plants introduced from South Africa that has become a problem plant in Australia.

Answer: Bracken Fern

Bracken fern is a pest in some areas, but not an introduced one!

Answer: Water hyacinth

Water hyacinth was introduced into Australia in the late 19th century. It over runs native water plants and interferes with navigation, irrigation and recreation.

Answer: Green Tree Ant

Fire ants (in Australia) have only been found in Queensland by 2009. Their painful sting, as well as the threat to native flora and fauna, and the injury caused to domestic animals, makes them an unwelcome intruder. The Coastal Brown Ant is an ecological threat in the Northern Territory, while the Yellow Crazy Ant is found in New South Wales.

Answer: Attacking vehicles on roads

Feral pigs can also attack lambing ewes and damage grain crops and fences.
Vehicles that hit them on roads can be badly damaged,but they are not known to have deliberately attacked moving vehicles.They can uproot underground cables, damage gardens and have been known to attack people who venture into their habitat.

Answer: Early British explorers

Camels were introduced in 1840, and were used by early explorers to cope with desert conditions.
With the introduction of motor transport in the early 20th century, camels were released and quickly became a nuisance due to the damage they can inflict on the environment.