A new ABC series examines how Australia might deal with some of its most problematic invasive species, by posing the question of whether we can suppress these hugely costly pests by turning them into dinner – with every plate consulted upon by two University of Adelaide academics.
Hosted by Tony Armstrong, Eat the Invaders is a six-part series looking at the impacts cane toads, camels, carp, deer, rabbits and cats have wrought upon the Australian landscape and its ecosystems.
University of Adelaide academics Professor Andy Lowe, Director of the Environment Institute, and Professor Phill Cassey, Head of the Invasion Science and Wildlife Ecology Group, feature in every episode and ensure their scientific underpinnings.
Each episode tasks Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele and head chef Vince Trim with turning the pests into haute cuisine, its deliciousness judged by the likes of Poh Ling Yeow, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and ‘Nat’s What I Reckon’.
Eat the Invaders will provoke Australian audiences to reconsider their understanding of some familiar but harmful animals.
“In Australia, the costliest invasive species are mammals, including a range of game and feral ‘domesticated’ species – such as rabbits and hares, goats, camels, multiple species of deer, donkeys, water buffalo, horses, and pigs,” Professor Lowe says.
“The damage these species cause to the environment and economy is immense, totalling hundreds of millions of dollars each year and leading to extinction of an increasing number of native species.”
Invasive species are ranked as the fifth greatest issue facing the environment globally, but it is .
“Australia has around 3000 invasive alien species, at an estimated to cost to the country over $20 billion every year in damages to primary industry and costs of management and control,” says Professor Cassey, who in 2023 contributed to the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ 2023 Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control.
Australia also has the , with invasive species a significant driver.
Despite attracting controversy before any episodes aired, Professor Cassey says Eat the Invaders’ core intention is education.
“It’s really important that we have these discussions about control of invasive species, but in an easy to access and entertaining way, so the issues are accessible and digestible for all,” says Professor Cassey.
“Whilst there are some pretty provocative concepts in the series, it also allows us to point out the total environmental damage done by invasive species and also ask questions about how best to control them.”
Closer Productions’ Matthew Bate, who wrote and directed Eat the Invaders, says the University of Adelaide professors’ input elevated the series.
“It was important to us that we engaged with experts while developing the series, to ensure that while being entertaining and noisy, it also maintained scientific rigour,” says Matthew.
“Professors Phill and Andy understood the provocation of the show – bringing a wealth of knowledge, mixed with the right kind of humour.”
Eat the Invaders will air weekly on the ABC TV from 7 January 2025 at 8.30pm. All six episodes will be available to binge same day on ABC iview.