Stow-away traveller leaps into Quarantine

AQIS Media Alert - Quarantine Matters!

When a slimy stowaway arrived at Adelaide Airport on Monday, AQIS — the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service —jumped to the task of detaining the exotic Marbled Toad.

The illegal hitchhiker was detected by Quarantine Officer David Shaw during a routine inspection of goods declared by a passenger arriving on a flight from India.

When opening the passengers bag to inspect declared food items David was surprised to come face to face with the unwanted toad.

The returning Australian passengers had been in India where it is thought the free loading passenger climbed aboard for the long journey to Australia.

The Marbled Toad is native to the Indian subcontinent and if allowed into Australia it could devastate our native frog and reptile species by introducing exotic diseases.

Media Opportunity
A photo and vision opportunity with the Marbled Toad will be held today at the AQIS office:

Where: AQIS Office, Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Export Park Adelaide Airport.

When: 12:00 – 13:00, Thursday 1 November.

AQIS Officer David Shaw will be available for comment.

For more information, contact:
Neil Ramsay, DAFF Media +61 2 6272 3232