Electric ants are now spreading in the Daintree Rainforest. If they are not eliminated, they will cause enormous economic and environmental damage.
Electric ants are one of the world’s worst invasive pests. These ants blind animals and pets with their painful stings. They displace local species and reduce overall biodiversity. They have proven to cause significant economic damage in lost tourism revenue due to the ants taking over recreational areas, including swimming pools, in some countries. We can’t let this happen to the world’s oldest rainforest.
The Daintree Rainforest must be protected from the invasion of electric ants. Urgent action is needed now.
Control of the first outbreak of electric ants (October 2022) failed and now a second larger outbreak has occurred. Since January 2024, three infestations have been found at locations between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation. This has created an emergency situation requiring an urgent response.
Add your voice to help us call on the Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to take urgent action and increase funding to eliminate electric ants in the Daintree.
This petition is brought to you by Politic in partnership with Gondwana Rainforest Trust.
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Australian Government Minister for the Environment
We, the undersigned, call on the Australian Government to significantly increase funding and work with other stakeholders to eliminate electric ants from the Daintree Rainforest.
The Daintree Lowland Rainforest is a place of extraordinary scientific, biological, and cultural value that is irreplaceable. It is a foundation of the regional economy and an icon that Australians want to be protected.
Electric ants are one of the world’s worst invasive species that can seriously impact the environment, wildlife, agriculture, tourism, development, and residential lifestyles. They are known to affect human health, blind domestic pets, and displace native wildlife.
At risk is a thriving tourism economy founded on conservation and preservation of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, the oldest rainforest on the planet, with an unbroken evolutionary history going back over 120 million years.
This is an issue we cannot afford to ignore.
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SUPPORTER VOICES - REASONS FOR SIGNING
Conservation of the environment of paramount for the survival of all species including our own. Nature is our greatest teacher and we literally rely on it for our survival and to encourage biodiversity
Hayley
0000-00-00 00:00:00
Electric fire ants will cause devastation to one of the most ancient rainforests in the world.
Jessica
0000-00-00 00:00:00
I have always been on nature's side. I have always been against destruction of nature because everything has to be in balance. I love this earth, our home, our only home I might add, and I love everything that's natural, animals and plants, and their habitats. I believe in living harmoniously with the earth and everything in it, co-existing together.
Rosanna
0000-00-00 00:00:00
The electric ant does alot of destruction
Donna
0000-00-00 00:00:00
The Daintree in its original form is so important
Rob
0000-00-00 00:00:00
Preservation and protection of places that are now so vital for climate conservation and existing biodiversity is crucial.
Robert
0000-00-00 00:00:00
Maintaining the unisque biodiversity of the Daintree rainforest is of critical importance to environmental conservation not only for Australia but for the whole world only to Australia but to the world.
Kathleen
0000-00-00 00:00:00
The Daintree forest is a unique place with special memories for me after visiting it in the mid 1980s
Catherine
0000-00-00 00:00:00
The Forrest isn’t a commodity! It belongs to all generations, all people and all the habitats it creates and supports. It is a natural wonder and a life sustaining treasure that we have no right to destroy!
AJ
0000-00-00 00:00:00
We have aresponsibility to cobtrol destructive species that we have introduced.
Jacquie
0000-00-00 00:00:00
Pests like fire ants will drive out all the biodiversity we need in forests and when they move into human communities they will wreak havoc and render these communities unliveable
Patricia D
0000-00-00 00:00:00
i have been to the Daintree rainforest it was beautiful i hope my kids kids get to see n experience the Daintree Rainforest too
Linnii
0000-00-00 00:00:00
Haven’t we learned anything? Cane Toads, Foxes, Rabbits and Hares. Fire Ants are something else altogether! They need to be stopped! NOW!!!
Annie
0000-00-00 00:00:00
We as a human being need to protest our forests, animals flora and faune from extinction. We need to urgently stop logging and plant more trees. Without our forests we are doomed. The science is there and we need to listen before its too late.
Edith
0000-00-00 00:00:00
The Daintree is the oldest rainforest in the world and needs protecting.
Caroline
0000-00-00 00:00:00
I love native animals and without them the ecosystem would die and so would we!
Ruby
2024-11-09 20:15:55