It is said that in Australia live animals such as koalas, laughing kingfishers, and short-tailed kangaroos,
They are loved by people for their cute appearance and cute personality.
Also living in Australia, compared with the above cute animals, this animal called the Australian White Ibis is a bit embarrassing.
They are called "garbage birds" by Australians,
Because they eat everything everywhere, not only turn over garbage, but also often grab food from people, they are disliked by Australians.
But recently it has been discovered that the Australian white ibis is actually very smart!
They can destroy an even more annoying animal, the sea toad.
He also mastered the "special way to eat sea toads".
Sea toads, also known as American giant toads, sugar cane toads, can reach 10-15 cm in length,
They have a gland behind their eyes, back and skin that secretes a milky white liquid called toad toxin when threatened,
Toad toxin has mild hallucinogenic effects and is toxic to many animals, and some people have been poisoned by eating sea toads, and in Australia toad toxin is considered a drug of the same level as heroin and cannabis.
Native to Central and South America, the sea toad was introduced to Australia in the 30s,
They are very reproductive, can lay thousands of eggs at a time, and have no natural enemies in Australia, wild sea toads can live up to 10-15 years.
As a result, sea toads have gradually become infestation, and it is estimated that their number has now reached 2 billion, becoming a harmful invasive species and causing serious damage to local species.
For these reasons, Australians hate sea toads, but there is nothing they can do about them.
Until recently, it was discovered that the Australian white ibis seemed to cure sea toads.
Ms. Emily Vincent, who heads the invasive species project at an environmental agency, said:
From time to time on the southeast coast of Australia, there are examples of Australian white ibises preying on sea toads.
In order not to be poisoned, the way they eat sea toads is also unique.
"The Australian white ibis will quickly flip the sea toad and throw them into the air, and people wonder what this is doing."
"It's actually to make the sea toads feel the pressure and stimulate them to excrete toxins."
"The Australian white ibis then grabs the toad and rubs it back and forth on the damp grass to rub off the toxins that are excreted, or go to a place where there is water to wash off the toxins and then eat them."
Macquarie University professor Rick Shine, who has been studying sea toads for 20 years, said Australian white ibises had been found to eat sea toads before.
Compared to animals such as snakes, mammals or crocodiles, the Australian white ibis appears to be less susceptible to toad toxins.
However, the taste of sea toads is not delicious, and if the Australian white ibis eats too much, it may still be poisoned and die, so you must be very careful.
So the Australian white ibis invented the "special way to eat sea toads".
Birds like eagles and crows also occasionally eat sea toads and understand that the glands on sea toads are poisonous.
When they eat sea toads, they will have their stomachs up and their backs down to avoid the glands in their back, remove their internal organs, and will not eat their glands.
The Australian White Ibis is different, and Professor Shine first heard that birds eat sea toads whole, which also impressed him with the Australian White Ibis.
"The notoriety of the Australian white ibis is a bit unfair, and the way they eat sea toads shows that they are very intelligent."
"Their method has removed the toxin from the sea toad, and there is no need to destroy the sea toad."
At one point, Professor Shine and Ms. Vincent coincided —
They all felt that the Australian white ibis eating sea toads was a very good sign that Australia's native species are learning to adapt to sea toads.
Some Australian species already know that sea toads can be eaten as a meal, although they are not delicious;
Some speculate that some species may be undergoing genetic changes that make them less susceptible to sea toad toxins;
There are also animals like the Australian white ibis, which not only eats sea toads, but also knows how to eat them safely, which can help control sea toad populations.
Ms Vincent says removing one female sea toad from the environment could reduce the birth of 70,000 sea toads a year.
Professor Shine said the main force in eradicating sea toads were Australian white ibises, mice or ants, all of which are less popular species in Australia.
"These animals all serve well, they are an invisible army that keeps sea toads down every year."
"So, we really deserve to thank these undesirable Australian species."
Even if you are not welcomed,
But it turns out that the Australian white ibis is smart!