Queensland is taking the fight to one of the world’s most destructive invasive species, with the Crisafulli Government committing an additional $6 million to the ongoing Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program (YCAEP).
This new funding forms part of a long-term, 10-year investment to rid the Wet Tropics region of yellow crazy ants—an invasive pest that threatens biodiversity, agriculture, and the $4.8 billion tourism industry in Cairns.
The Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA), which leads the program, has achieved an extraordinary milestone: the world’s largest recorded eradication of yellow crazy ants. The program has successfully cleared infestations across more than 1,076 hectares, including 63 hectares within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
In addition, WTMA has removed yellow crazy ants from over 1,700 residential properties in Bentley Park and Edmonton, south of Cairns. The team continues to manage over 2,100 hectares, with approximately 350 hectares located within the World Heritage Area.
Yellow crazy ants, listed among the world’s 100 worst invasive species, are known for forming “super colonies” capable of overwhelming entire ecosystems. They pose a severe threat to native species, wildlife, agriculture, and the Far North Queensland lifestyle.
Through this latest funding boost, the Crisafulli Government is delivering on its election commitment to protect Queensland’s natural environment. The investment not only supports world-leading environmental management but also safeguards key industries that rely on the state’s pristine landscapes—particularly tourism, which supports one in six jobs in the Far North.
Local communities have been instrumental in the success of the YCAEP. Collaboration between residents, industry partners, and all levels of government has played a crucial role in achieving these record-breaking results.
The eradication program stands as a model of what can be achieved when science, community engagement, and government leadership come together. The program’s integrated management plans are grounded in science and designed to maintain confidence in Queensland’s environmental stewardship as the world turns its eyes toward the state in the lead-up to 2032.
Queensland’s fight against yellow crazy ants continues to set the standard for invasive species eradication efforts worldwide—proving that with sustained effort and teamwork, even the most challenging environmental threats can be overcome.
For more information on the Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program, visit www.wettropics.gov.au.
4 Comments