Concerns have heightened following the discovery of yellow crazy ants near K’gari, also known as Fraser Island, one of Australia’s most pristine environments. This invader is listed as one of the top 100 invasive species worldwide. It’s already made five colonies in Maryborough and has moved into the Hervey Bay suburb of Booral. Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell said it was “devastating” news that the species had spread to Queensland’s Fraser Coast. This worrisome new trend has led to widespread calls for vehicle recalls to prevent additional spread.
Having originated from a region in Southeast Asia, yellow crazy ants probably came to Australia on a ship loaded with cargo. When allowed to, they can create “super colonies” that include hundreds of their queens and millions of ants. This special characteristic is what makes them different from all other ant species. These colonies prosper as the ants show no intercolony aggression, resulting in a massive increase in population numbers. Their unique acid-spray defense mechanism makes eradication much more difficult.
The Threat of Invasion
The introduction of yellow crazy ant has catastrophic impacts on K’gari’s unique environmental and biodiversity values. For the island’s traditional owners—known as the Meriam people—the worst-case invader scenario is a major concern. They think it would very seriously damage their homeland. Reece Pianta, a representative of the traditional owners, stated, “I am concerned that they might not have the resources to deal with this threat.” Sentiments like these highlight the need to do something about this growing crisis before it gets even worse.
In the 1990s, both the Queensland and federal governments dedicated considerable resources to an eradication campaign in the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics region. This renovation effectively stopped the spread of yellow crazy ants. Consequently, very tight restrictions were placed on the transport of any materials that could potentially contain them. Recent sightings around K’gari have alarmed experts. They worry that even the new legislation will not be enough to protect against another crisis.
Community Response and Proposed Solutions
Local leaders are urging all involved to take action ahead of time to prevent yellow crazy ant spread. Conway Burns has argued that vehicle inspections are a prerequisite for access to K’gari. He emphasized, “It’s important that we put these in place.” Enacting these commonsense checks would be an important first line of defense against new infestation.
Though communities are overcoming challenges through ingenuity, advocacy and collaboration, money is still the biggest obstacle. To date, the local council has established a five-to-ten-year control plan that would lead to the eventual removal of yellow crazy ants from the area. Yet, they do not have state or federal assistance right now in order to truly carry out these plans in a robust way. Christine Royan from the Australian Conservation Foundation said bypassing environmental protections would threaten K’gari’s World Heritage status. She continued: “If you don’t protect the environment … there isn’t a World Heritage status.”
The Road Ahead
While authorities continue to deal with this new and dangerous threat, the fate of K’gari remains uncertain for the time being. As the introduction of yellow crazy ants on Christmas Island shows, swift, decisive action is essential. It’s time to stop the development and save Australia’s most beloved natural wonder. An urgent need Environmental agencies and local leaders must work together to continue to attract funding and resources deeply needed for responsible local management.
