ABC star Tony Armstrong has been criticized for suggesting Australians consider eating cane toads in an upcoming series.
The show, titled Eat The Invaders, will be hosted by the former ABC News Breakfast star and will air in 2025.
A trailer for the series suggests that consuming invasive species such as carp, deer, camels and cane toads could be a ‘palatable solution’ to Australia’s invasive species problem.
In the trailer, Armstrong is seen holding a notoriously poisonous cane toad, while a large knife is positioned precariously above the creature.
‘But what if we could help? By reimagining this problem as a palatable solution,” Armstrong asks during the shocking scene.
The series is expected to feature six meals, each centered around a specific invasive species as the main ingredient.
However, in a column for the Sydney Morning HeraldDr. Carol Booth, chief policy analyst at the Invasive Species Council, condemned the idea of eating cane toads.
Dr. Booth suggested that while the idea of consuming invasive species may be well-intentioned, it could actually make the situation worse.
ABC star Tony Armstrong (pictured) has come under fire for suggesting Australians consider eating cane toads in an upcoming series
“It’s an attractive proposition and the intentions are good, but to believe that eating the invasive species in Australia will solve the problem is unrealistic and could make the problem worse,” explained Dr. Booth out.
‘By presenting these animals as food, the show threatens to make their presence more desirable – creating a dangerous paradox that could lead to the further spread of some species.’
Dr. Booth added that the Invasive Species Council had raised the issue with series producers, but their efforts went unheeded.
“This is something the Invasive Species Council raised with the show’s creators when it was just a concept. Unfortunately, our biology-based message was not as delightful,” she added.
The cane toad was introduced to Australia in 1938 and since then its population has increased from 102 to an estimated 200 million. WWF Australia.
Armstrong’s stunt with the cane toad follows his announcement in September about leaving ABC News Breakfast, which shocked viewers.
“I’ve been pretty nervous about doing this,” Tony said on air.
‘I stopped working at Nieuws Brekkie and my last day is October 4.
The trailer for the upcoming series Eat The Invaders shows Armstrong holding up a notoriously poisonous cane toad before the scene cuts to a large knife perched precariously above the creature.
However, in a column for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Invasive Species Council’s chief policy analyst, Dr Carol Booth, condemned the message about eating cane toads.
“I just want to thank everyone – all of you, my colleagues, everyone behind the camera, all the producers, all the people who are also watching and coming out on the street and saying g’day and all that kind of stuff,” he continued.
“Um, yeah, it’s been kind of a whirlwind of three and a few years, a lot has happened, it feels like I’ve been on some kind of rocket, but the support I’ve received from News Brekkie and the news in general was great.
‘Thank you so much, I’m going to miss the couch – I’m not going to miss the alarm clock, but I’m going to miss the couch – I had so much fun.’
Armstrong’s shock departure came just weeks after he was nominated for the prestigious Gold Logie, which he lost to Seven star Larry Emdur.
“It’s an attractive argument and well-intentioned, but the idea that eating Australia’s invasive species can help solve the problem is a fantasy and could make matters worse,” Dr. wrote. Booth.