00:00Dogs and cats could be among the biggest casualties if invasive fire ants spread across Australia.
00:06With a new Australia Institute report warning thousands of pets and dozens of people could
00:11die every year without stronger eradication efforts.
00:15Red imported fire ants are a super pest.
00:17So if this super pest is allowed to spread uncontrollably, we would see a real impact
00:23in Australia.
00:24The report estimates red imported fire ants could trigger more than 2.3 million extra
00:30veterinary visits annually, with treatment and management costs climbing into the hundreds
00:35of millions of dollars.
00:37Researchers also warned people would not escape the impact, as more than 30 people could die
00:42annually from severe allergic reactions, while pet deaths could climb into the thousands.
00:49Current spending on controlling fire ants falls short of what may ultimately be needed
00:54to eliminate them, the report claims, warning the cost of inaction could far outweigh the
01:00price of eradication.
01:02Fire ants have already spread through parts of Australia and are causing concern among farmers,
01:08rural communities and biosecurity experts over their impact on people, animals and the environment.
01:18They're getting a few � attaining.
01:20They're getting a few important things.
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