SYDNEY, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Tuesday called people to keep an eye out for exotic species that may be hitching a ride this summer.
"I encourage everyone, whether you're traveling near or far, to keep your eyes open and report any sightings of exotic wildlife that could put our communities, our environment, and our economies at risk," NSW Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said in a statement, calling for efforts to maintain the state's biosecurity.
Saunders noted that authorities suspect a male toad recently found in a seaside town on NSW's south coast likely came in on an interstate vehicle.
"Hitchhiking with an unsuspecting motorist is one of the most common ways cane toads and other pests make their way into NSW. People should remember to check their load before they return to the state," the minister warned.
Meanwhile, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) is also asking people to raise awareness about different types of pests and report cases of exotic animals being kept illegally.
According to the department, non-native animals can have a negative impact on the natural environment and commercial enterprises through predation, competition for food and shelter, destruction of habitat, and by spreading exotic animal diseases.
In 2022, the NSW DPI responded to several reports of introduced species, including a four-meter-long Burmese python, a venomous Gila monster (venomous lizard), an iguana, corn snakes, and an African spurred tortoise. Many of those were illegally kept at properties in Sydney.
"The illegal wildlife trade can be just as devastating to the animal that has been poached as it is to the new environment it has been introduced to," Saunders said.
"Animals should never be forced to go where they don't belong, and if they escape from someone's garage or backyard, it will create a much bigger problem," he added. ■