The cane toad is a large (1.8 kg) amphibian species native to Central and South America. It was deliberately introduced to Australia in 1935 with the expectation that it would protect farmers' crops by eating harmful insects. Unfortunately, the toad multi

The article states ways to stop the cane toads in Australia by providing three different ways to do it. However, the professor explains that it won't be as simple to destroy as the author mentioned. The speaker refutes each of the author's claims.

First, the reading claims that one way to prevent the spread of the toads could be to construct a national fence because it would block the passage of the toad from one part to Australia to the other parts are not colonized yet. Moreover, a fence with similar purpose was made to stop rabbit’s population centuries ago, so it should work in the toad’s populations as well. The professor refutes this point by saying that young toads travel from rivers and streams, so a national fence won't stop the increases of toad's populations. He states that it would take just few cane toads to establish a population in the other size of the fence.

Second, the article posits that volunteers can help to destroy and capture toads. Moreover, the author describes that using traps or catching eggs could be methods to destroy the population of toad. However, the professor says that even though the information provided by the author is true, untrained volunteers would destroy the national toads because it is difficult to tell apart from the cane toads. Thus, this way could let a decrease in the authentic fauna, the Australian frog, which is endangered.

Third, the article says that it could be created a disease-causing virus to control the toad populations. However, this virus could affect other species of amphibians and reptiles, but it won't be harmful, only in cane toads. The professor opposes this point by explaining that this method could affect South America species. We also learn that if a pet's collector brought an infected species to America, it would contaminate the rest of the species there, which would cause the extinction of the toads in South America.