I'm A Celebrity Camp Faces Invasion of Deadly Cane Toads
Before filming of the upcoming season of I'm A Celebrity begins, environmental experts have carried out a large-scale cull of poisonous cane toads near the ITV show's location. A shocking total of 38,000 toxic amphibians were eliminated to reduce the health risks to the contestants.
Toxic Threat to Contestants and Wildlife
The brown cane toads, known for secreting a harmful milky white slime from glands behind their eyes when threatened, pose serious dangers. Contact with this toxin can cause nausea, vomiting, and sometimes require hospital treatment if contestants touch the toads and then their mouth or eyes.
“The celebrities are always given a strict talk about what wildlife to avoid when they are in the camp but it is quite easy to brush past one of these toads and get slime on your hands or people might think they are cute frogs and try to stroke them.”
Besides affecting humans, the toxins can be fatal to birds, dogs, and cats. The rapid growth in cane toad populations, now estimated at 200 million across Australia, is a major environmental concern because they lay multiple egg clutches.
Location and Cast
The show is filmed in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, a region heavily infested with these toads. The new season, launching on Sunday, November 16, will feature comedienne Ruby Wax, reality star Jack Osbourne, and model-actress Kelly Brook among the campmates.
Environmental Challenge
- The cane toads' toxin threatens both human and animal health.
- Their large population complicates the safety efforts around the filming site.
- Strict safety guidelines are provided to the celebrity contestants to minimize risk.
Summary: A massive cull of 38,000 poisonous cane toads near the filming site aims to protect I'm A Celebrity contestants from toxicity risks posed by this invasive Australian species.