The organisers of the FrogWatch group in the Northern Territory are calling on the Federal Government to fund programs to control cane toads.
Graeme Sawyer will launch a new group this week called Reptile Watch to focus public attention on the problem.
He says the toxic toads are killing lizards and snakes and are causing species to become vulnerable.
“All the anecdotal reports from rangers in Kakadu and other places are that all the big goannas have disappeared out of the landscape and Aboriginal people in Arnhem Land have been saying that they’re gone as well,” Mr Sawyer said.
“It’s a major problem that needs the public’s attention drawn to it and we need politicians, both federal and the Northern Territory, to make some inroads into getting these problems addressed.”
Mr Sawyer says captive breeding programs may be needed for some vulnerable species.
“It’s a huge problem, particularly things like king brown snakes. It looks to us like king browns have been wiped out on the tropical savannahs,” he said.
“Nobody’s been seeing them and all the reptile experts and people who are out in the field, a lot just don’t seem to be seeing them anymore.”