Bashed frog victim of mistaken identity

WILDLIFE experts are trying to save a green tree frog almost kicked to death by children who thought it was a cane toad.

The creature was yesterday handed in to the Gold Coast’s Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary suffering horrific injuries.

Senior veterinarian Michael Pyne said some children apparently mistook the frog, nicknamed Puffy by sanctuary staff, for a cane toad and tried to kill it.

“There was some children kicking what they thought was a toad in their backyard.

“The neighbour saw it and saw that it was a green tree frog, and they rushed over and grabbed the frog and brought it in to us.”

Dr Pyne, who said Puffy was not likely to survive, urged people not to bash any amphibian, even if they suspected it was a cane toad.

“This poor frog is in a desperate state, we’re going to need a lot of luck for him to pull through,” he said.

“He’s basically ruptured his lungs and he’s filling up with air, and he’s heavily bruised, so we’re going to be doing a few procedures on him later today.”

Cane toads should be killed humanely, Dr Pyne said.

“You shouldn’t be kicking toads to death anyway, it’s far better to catch them up and pop them in the freezer.”

From NEWS.COM.AU

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