Office Use Only
Date Received
QSAEC
Complete
The Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee
The QSAEC is an independent committee formed by Education Queensland, the Queensland Catholic Education Commission and Independent Schools Queensland
APPLICATION FORM TO USE ANIMALS IN EDUCATION
1
DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED ANIMAL USE ACTIVITY
1.1
School/school authority
1.2
Activity title
Toad Dissection Years 11 to 12 Template
A separate application should be completed for each animal type as to outline their individual needs
Description of school group:
Scientific User Registration Number
Each school entity that uses animals must
register with the Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry (QAFF) before any
animal use activities are undertaken.
1.2
EQ
QCEC
(All EQ
schools use
this number)
You must
have a
Scientific User
ID here:
ISQ
You must
have a
Scientific User
ID here:
Other:
You must
have a
Scientific User
ID here:
102
Details of schools or school authorities seeking approval for this proposed animal use activity.
A school or a group of schools under the same legal entity may streamline this application process by requesting
approval to repeat a particular animal use activity with different animals and different students at different locations.
Name all schools/colleges undertaking this proposed animal use activity
Please note: Any approvals granted are for the schools listed in section 1.4 and if there are any changes to the
schools conducting this activity the QSAEC must approve this before going ahead. Attach a list to this application
detailing contact details for each school in this group: Name of school, school’s address, name of teacher-in-charge,
phone number, fax number and email details.
1.3
Objectives of the proposed animal use activity
a)
This activity is proposed for: Science Subject Areas
b)
This proposed animal use activity has these stated outcomes:
Years 11 to 12 Year level/s
To enable students to achieve one of the General Objectives in the Biology Senior Syllabus:
Investigating Biology, ‘Students should be given opportunities to carry out experimental investigations’ and
to ‘develop skills and processes required to collect, organise, interpret, model and present primary data.’
(Biology Senior Syllabus, 2004 amended 2006, pp.4-5.)
To present the key ideas – ‘The set of systems comprising an organism enables it to function in its
environment’ and ‘the external features and internal function of organisms together enable an organism to
obtain its needs.’ (Biology Senior Syllabus, 2004 amended 2006, p. 8)
To provide students with opportunities to participate in Practical Work, integral to Biology and to ‘dissect
specimen material to observe structure and infer function’ and ‘handle specimens of living material
responsibly and ethically’ and develop fundamental skills listed in the Biology Senior Syllabus, 2004
amended 2006, p.15.
c)
Format of the proposed animal use activity:
Activity performed by students with supervision.
Yes
No
Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee application form to use animals in education for scientific purposes
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1.4
What is the current status of this application?
a)
New application
b)
Renewing application
Resubmitted application
Variation on a presently approved
application
Please provide details if this application has been considered by another Animal Ethics Committee
(AEC)?
N/A
c)
Expected Commencement Date
Expected Completion Date
Activity continuous
Activity continuous
From Term:
1.5
Year:
To Term:
Year:
Details are to be included here of personnel and institutions involved in the proposed activity and
their competence with procedures for this particular activity.
Please include all details of primary contact (Activity Leader) and any other staff members involved in performing the
procedure. Include the years of experience and relevant University or Technical Qualifications to perform this
procedure (Note: Activity Leads are required to have two years experience with the procedure).
Primary Contact/Activity Lead
Name
Title
Years of Experience
Phone
Fax
Email
Fax
Email
Fax
Email
Fax
Email
Qualifications
Other
Name
Title
Years of Experience
Phone
Qualifications
Other
Name
Title
Years of Experience
Phone
Qualifications
Other
Name
Title
Years of Experience
Phone
Qualifications
Number of times this activity will be performed during each year.
The activity may be an ongoing one, e.g. Routine Husbandry
The activity might be undertaken one time only with a group of students, e.g. Rat Dissection.
Tick the categories of procedure in the proposed animal use activity. These categories of
procedure are explained in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (QAFF)
Guidelines (Attachment 3, page 10).
Observational studies involving minor interference
Animal unconscious without recovery
Minor conscious intervention without anaesthesia
Minor operative procedures with recovery
Surgery with recovery
Major physiological challenge
Minor physiological challenge
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What is the source of the animals to be used in this proposed animal use activity? Students or staff
collect toads from their local habitat (eg. backyards) prior to the activity.
Consider: Are permits required?
Include details: N/A
Yes
1.6
No
Conditions of animal housing and handling.
Provide details of the facilities including security measures, where the animals will be kept
routinely and where any specific procedures will be carried out.
Photographs and/or video evidence of conditions of animal housing and handling on your site must be attached.
At home Toads are kept in suitable moist warm and ventilated containers for a period of less than 18 hours.
At school Toads are kept in suitable moist warm and ventilated containers for a period of less than 8 hours.
Other Teachers advise students on suitable container type (eg 2L sized clean ice cream container with a lid
containing air holes.)
If your management procedures or housing do not meet the relevant Australian Model Codes of
Practice for the Welfare of Animals, describe and justify this situation. N/A
Detail arrangements for the removal of animals at the completion of this proposed animal use
activity. After dissection, toads are to be bagged, labeled, frozen and disposed of safely in the school’s
commercial waste disposal service.
Are there any health risks to students, staff members or other animals due to this proposed animal
use activity?
Yes
No
Include details: Salmonella is a zoonotic disease that may be carried by frogs and
toads (Taylor et al., 2000). The risk of student infection is assessed as low. Students
and staff will wear disposable gloves and use mild disinfectant during the dissection
procedure.
Cane toads can secrete poison from two large glands on the back of the neck, even
squirting it a short distance if firmly hit or squeezed. The poison can cause severe skin
and eye irritation and should be washed off with water immediately if contact occurs.
Medical attention should be sought if necessary. To minimize poisoning risk, staff and
students should handle toads gently, using gloves or plastic bags. Hands must be
washed after handling and dissection. Safety glasses may be required for this activity.
2
2.1
REDUCTION
Description of animals to be used in this proposed animal use activity.
Species of animal to be used: Bufo marinus / Common cane toad (pest species)
Anticipated number of animals to be used
Total 1st year:
Total 2nd year:
Total 3rd year:
Indicate the class of animals and how many animals are to be used in this animal use activity.
Pre-natal
How many: N/A
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
New born
How many: N/A
Juvenile/weaner
How many: N/A
Queensland schools animal ethics committee application form to use animals in education for scientific purposes
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Adults
How many:
Genetically modified
organisms
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
How many: N/A
Other
2.2
How many: N/A
Details: N/A
Have the animals in this proposed animal use activity been used in any previous scientific or
teaching activity?
Briefly explain: N/A
Yes
No
Anticipated number of students to be involved in this activity.
Per year:
Total for 3 years:
These numbers should be a close approximation.
Ratios to minimise animals used are included here:
Student/teacher ratio to be used in this procedure 30 : 1
Student/animal ratio to be used in this procedure 3 : 1 is the likely ratio.
2.3
Is this proposed animal use activity a repeat of an earlier project? If so, why is the repetition
necessary?
Briefly explain: N/A
Yes
3
3.1
No
REPLACEMENT
What alternatives to this proposed animal use activity have been considered? Text book learning, class
discussion, viewing videos, 3D models, internet based multimedia presentations and simulations.
3.2
4
Indicate what alternatives are to be used? No other currently available alternative can replace the
hands-on experience of observing and dissecting. While the above alternatives broaden the scope of the
learning experience, they do not produce all the required educational outcomes. In hands-on dissection,
students are able to investigate the complexity and organisation of the toad anatomy independently in a
three dimensional, kinaesthetic mode. (Franklin et al., 2001).
REFINEMENT
Considerations: This document is a detailed description of what will happen to the animals from the time they are
sourced through to the completion of the activity. Once this activity is approved as described, teachers MUST NOT
VARY any aspect of the activity’s procedures without approval from the QSAEC.
4.1
A detailed sequence of activity events
Procedure to be
used
Collection and
initial housing of
toads.
Full description of procedure
Students are instructed in safe, humane
collection and care of toads eg. Correct
handling, correct housing, moisture,
warmth. Procedures must be made
available to parents through a note,
handout, exercise book notes or other
suitable means. See Appendices A and C
Methods to minimise any distress or pain
animals may suffer as a result of this
procedure
When collected, toads should be held in
cupped hands and not squeezed.
Handling should be minimised. Gloves or
plastic bags should be worn over hands.
If kept overnight toads must be retained in
a secure clean container with air holes.
The container and the toad should be
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for details.
Students are instructed to collect healthy
uninjured specimens only and are advised
of signs of good health (eg. Skin
appearance, level of activity).
Transport of
toads and
housing at school
sprayed with water to ensure that they are
kept moist. (See Appendix A.) (Edith
Cowan University, 2003)
Parents / Carers in charge of this
procedure at home must complete a
consent form. (See Appendix C.)
Students collect the toad on an arranged
night some time before the dissection
activity is to be undertaken. The captured
toads are transported to the scientific
assistant or science teacher on the next
morning after capture for care in
preparation for euthanasing or storing.
Option 1a: Live toads are taken to school
by students in a secure, clean, moist
container with air holes.
To ensure complete euthanasing of toads,
planning will be necessary for the toad
collection and delivery. Allow for a
minimum of 3 hours cooling time and 3 full
days freezing time prior to dissection.
Activity leader (teacher) should make a
professional judgment whether to allow
students to conduct euthanasia (Option
1b) at home prior to the activity. Parents /
carers in charge of this procedure at
home must sign and return a consent
form. (See Appendix C.)
Option 1b: Frozen toads (euthanased at
home) are taken to school in a secure
container. (See Appendix B for details.)
Option 1a is the preferred QSAEC
option.
Euthanasia
Option 1a: Stepped hypothermia at
school. The toad in a plastic bag or
suitable plastic container is placed in the
refrigerator to bring it to a state of torpor
for 3 hours. It is then frozen in deep
freezing conditions for at least
3 full days.
Option 1b: Stepped hypothermia at
home by student with parental
assistance.
PLEASE NOTE: Procedures must be
made available to parents / carers through
a note, handout, exercise book notes or
other suitable means.
Option 2: Veterinary euthanasia.
Toad dissection
Toads are chilled to render them
unconscious. (See Appendix B.)
Toads are frozen to render them fully
unconscious. (See Appendix B.)
Stepped Hypothermia at school as
advocated by CSIRO and RSPCAQ is
the recommended method.
Parents / Carers in charge of this
procedure at home must complete and
sign a consent form. (See Appendix C.)
PLEASE NOTE: PITHING AS A
EUTHANASIA METHOD IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE IN QUEENSLAND
SCHOOLS.
The toad is euthanased by a veterinarian
or an experienced operator using drugs
approved by the Queensland Health
Department.
Toads must be handled and euthanased
quickly and efficiently by a competent
operator.
Begin the dissection by placing the toad
on its back and pinning it to the board
through its feet.
The toad is unconscious without recovery.
Make the necessary incision/s and pin
back the skin layer to the right and the left
side of the toad.
Cut through the abdominal wall and pin
out the flaps of the abdominal wall on
either side.
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Internal
inspection
Identify the significant organs of the
digestive system and trace the pathway
linking these organs. Note observations
and sketch the relative positions of these
organs.
Identify the significant organs of the
respiratory system and trace the pathway
linking these organs. Note observations
and sketch the relative positions of these
organs.
Identify the significant organs of the
circulatory system and trace the pathway
linking these organs. Note observations
and sketch the relative positions of these
organs.
Toad disposal
Upon completion of the dissection activity
all toads and tissue used in the
experiment will be placed into plastic
bags.
The plastic bags are sealed and stored in
the freezer until the time of disposal.
All the plastic-encased animal tissue is
placed in the garbage disposal service or
medical disposal system used within the
school site.
What processes will be in place to minimise any adverse impact on the animals? N/A
5
5.1
MONITORING OF ANIMALS
Details of how animals will be monitored.
Provide details of how the animals will be monitored to assess the impact of procedures before and after the proposed
activity. Also provide details of how animals will be monitored to ensure the wellbeing of the animal on a day-to-day
basis.
Method of
monitoring to be
used
Frequency
of
monitoring
to be used
Person
responsible for
monitoring
How many years
experience does
this person have
in monitoring
animals?
Is this person
competent to
recognise sick
or injured
animals?
Is this person
competent to
treat sick or
injured
animals?
Supervision
Continuous
Student/Staff
Variable
Yes
No
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
What procedures will be taken if this person is unable to treat sick or injured animals? N/A
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If animals remain on school property over weekends and during holidays, detail the monitoring
program in place to ensure the well-being and security of these animals.
Not applicable
Toads will be euthanased as soon as possible upon their arrival in the laboratory if not previously
undertaken by students at home. Once frozen, the toads can be kept in the freezer until required. If
refrigeration difficulties occur, a backup freezing facility is to be found to store the toads. If no back up
freezing facility is available the toads are to be disposed of safely.
5.2
Withdrawal
Provide details regarding withdrawal of animals from the activity
Procedure
(Refer to 4.1 Sequence of Activity
Events)
Collection and initial housing of
toads
Criteria used to withdraw animals
Describe what will happen to
animals that are withdrawn in
terms of treatment or euthanasia
Students will be instructed not to
collect any toad that appears sick
or injured or whose behaviour is
unusual. Students will be
instructed to check toads in the
evening and morning of capture.
Any toads with missing body
parts, signs of disease or
infection or severe distress will be
euthanased and disposed of
through the routine laboratory
disposal system.
Assessment of each toad will be
made by the scientific assistant or
science teacher.
Housing and euthanasing of the
toads at school (1a), the QSAEC
preferred method, and at
students’ homes (1b) with written
permission from student’s carers.
Housing and euthanasia of all
toads will be done efficiently to
minimise the stress on toads.
Full records of animals collected,
euthanased and disposed of are
to be kept and included in the
annual animal use report for your
school.
Teaching staff will assess which
toads will be euthanased and
used or disposed of.
Refer to Appendices E, F and G
upon completion of this activity
with students.
Full records of animals collected, euthanased and disposed of are to be kept and included in the Annual Animal Use
Report for your school.
5.3
Animal emergency management arrangements
Detail the arrangements that are in place to deal with an emergency animal event, both in school
hours and outside school hours.
6
Contact person in the event of an emergency
Contact details – all hours
Science HOD or teacher, science assistant or school principal.
As per attached contact list.
JUSTIFICATION
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Justify the purpose of this proposed animal use activity.
Please note: Outline how the proposed animal use activity will deliver the stated scientific purpose (Section 1). Explain
how the benefits of the proposed animal use activity outweigh the potential impact on the animals used in the activity.
Justify why animals are being used and why this number of animals is being used. Convince the QSAEC.
1. To provide specific learning experiences from the Biology Syllabus for the Senior External Examination
(2006) including:

Physiology of organisms - "Perform dissections to establish relationships between systems (actual
or virtual plant and / or animal specimens" (p. 14)

Physiology of organisms - "compare plant and animal structures and processes to determine
commonalities" (p. 14)

Continuity of life - "Investigate the organs of the reproductive system to appreciate the
interrelationship of the individual structures (e.g. using interactive CD-ROMS, videos, plastic 3D
models or dissections)." (p. 17)
2. To enable students to:

Have ‘opportunities to carry out experimental investigations’ and to ‘develop skills and processes
required to collect, organise, interpret, model and present primary data.’ (Biology Senior Syllabus,
2004 amended 2006, pp.4-5.)
To participate in Practical Work, integral to Biology and to develop fundamental skills as listed on page 15
of the Biology Senior Syllabus, 2004 amended 2006.
7
DISSECTION PLAN
List the types of animal
dissections undertaken in
your school
Year Levels
List alternatives to using
animals that your school uses
and has available
N/A
Year 8
N/A
N/A
Year 9
N/A
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
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7
DECLARATION OF AUTHORITY TO PERFORM PROPOSED ANIMAL USE ACTIVITY
I,
acknowledge that I am the teacher appointed/authorised teacher representative who will
conduct this animal use activity.
Title of activity, Year Level/s and Subject area/s Toad Dissection Years 11 to 12
School/School Authority name
In that capacity I agree that adequate resources will be available to undertake the project and that I and all others
involved are familiar, and will comply, with the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (Qld) and the Australian Code of
Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 2004.
Name:
Principal
Approval granted by QSAEC is on the condition that the
following actions are taken. Please indicate acceptance
by checking the boxes below. The Principal has:
read and approved this application
Signature:
signed a hard copy of this application
Date:
ensured a hard copy of this application will be
held for 7 years for audit purposes
Name:
Approval granted by QSAEC is on the condition that the
following actions are taken. Please indicate acceptance
by checking the boxes below. The activity lead has:
Position:
read and approved this application
Signature:
signed a hard copy of this application
Date:
ensured a hard copy of this application will be
held for 7 years for audit purposes
Submit completed forms to: Fax: (07) 3237 0101 Email: AnimalEthics.APPLICATIONS@deta.qld.gov.au
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APPENDIX A
TOADS: INFORMATION
Size: 15 cm
Age at adult size: Variable
Weight at birth: Most are egg laying
Gestation period: Variable
Litter size: Numerous eggs
Range of breeding ages: Capable of breeding after metamorphosing
NORMAL BEHAVIOUR
'Normal' behaviour varies between individuals and can only be determined by daily observation. Once a 'normal’ behaviour
pattern has been established, any deviations from this can be regarded with suspicion. Expert advice will need to be sought if
any symptoms are detected.
FOOD REQUIREMENTS
Type: Most toads will feed only on living prey such as worms and insects. Dried fish food and/or boiled lettuce is ideal for
tadpoles.
Quantity: An adequate food supply for one or two toads can be caught by hand but larger numbers of toads may require food
to be bred or caught using traps. Mealworms, blowflies, fruit flies and crickets are easy to breed.
Tadpoles have to be given an excess; as lack of food may result in cannibalism.
Essential dietary needs (variations): Toads require a variety of insects and invertebrates as monotonous diets can cause
dietary deficiencies, e.g. too many meal worms.
Water: The cage should be sprayed regularly with water e.g. fine garden spray gun, to ensure that both the cage and toads are
always moist. A plastic, glass or earthenware dish should be sunk into the soil with its lip at ground level and water replaced as
often as necessary to keep it fresh.
ENVIRONMENT
Space: Glass aquaria are ideal cages for toads. The space required depends on the size and number of toads.
Cage environment: In general, the kind of environment set up should mirror the habitat of the species to be maintained.
Temperature: Only tropical species require some extra warmth (best provided by a light globe). NOTE: Overheating will kill
most.
Light: Natural daylight (filtered) is adequate.
Ventilation: Any (non-rusting) fly wire is ideal as a lid on a cage. This will provide adequate ventilation.
Shelter: Moistened but not wet 10 cm of sand, soil and leaf litter. Rocks, bark and hollow branches, plastic tubing, plastic
matting and stainless steel boxes in which to hide may be useful. Plants, water plants and other vegetation can enrich the
environment.
Cleaning: The cage and water should be clean at all times.
HANDLING
Capture: A net is an ideal method for capture.
Transporting: Toads must be secure at all times to prevent escape. Internally they may be moved using margarine or ice
cream containers.
General handling: Toads are best held in cupped hands and not squeezed. They should be handled as little as possible.
Always wash hands after handling toads. Gloves may be worn when handling toads, however, hands should still be thoroughly
washed after the activity.
(Taken from Care and Use of Animals, Procedure Version 1.1 21, 2003 )
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APPENDIX B
Suggested Letter to Parents/Carers
Insert School Logo
Attach an information sheet on collection, handling and euthanasia of toads. (Refer to
Appendices A and B.)
Dear Parent / Carer,
Thank you for agreeing to assist in the collection and / or euthanasia of cane toads
for............................................................................................
(insert details of class and activity)
for the period .................................. to ..................................................................
(commencing date)
(end date).
This letter is to advise you of your responsibilities. According to Queensland law, the Animal Care and Protection
Act 2001, a person in charge of an animal has a duty of care to that animal and must take all reasonable steps to
ensure that the animal’s needs are provided for as follows:
1. Provision of food and water
2. Provision of appropriate accommodation or living conditions
3. Freedom to express normal behaviour
4. Treatment of disease or injury
5. Appropriate handling of the animal to avoid causing fear and distress.
These provisions apply to all animals, including pest species such as toads.
Prior to asking for your assistance in this activity the school must ensure that the animal will be responsibly cared
for by a person competent to do so. Once the toads are captured it is your responsibility to ensure that these needs
(based on the internationally recognised ‘Five Freedoms’ of animal welfare) are upheld as a matter of your duty of
care obligation.
Please ensure that you are provided with all necessary care information, equipment, food and other requirements
prior to accepting duty of care responsibility for this activity.
Should an after hours emergency arise (such as the need for veterinary care) during the time that you are caring for
the animal please contact:
............................................................................ on telephone number ................................ for advice.
(Insert here the name and contact telephone number of school staff member, after hours veterinary clinic or
experienced animal carer with which the school has made prior arrangements.)
Please ensure that when the toad/s is/are taken to school they are safely and directly handed over to the class
teacher or other staff member who is responsible for this activity. If the toads are to be euthanased, please follow
the directions on the attached information sheets.
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To accept responsibility for the abovementioned animal, please sign and return to the school the section below.
Yours faithfully
..................................................................................................................................
(school principal)
I,................................................................................. (insert name of parent/carer)
agree to care for and follow the protocol below for the care and/or euthanasia of the cane toads for the period to
...................................................................................
I have read and understood the above information and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the five needs,
as listed above, are provided to the animal for which I am in charge.
........................................................... .....................................
APPENDIX C
Protocol for the collection and euthanasia of toads.
1. Collect toads into plastic bags/containers with an air hole.
Note, if plastic bags are to be used
(i) the toads should be wrapped in a towel as this prevents the animals from coming into direct contact with a frozen
surface and
(ii) the bags must have air holes.
o
2. Cool animals to 4 C in a refrigerator until torpor is evident, usually 2-3 hours.
o
3. Then freeze in a -20 C freezer (conventional freezer) for at least three days.
(Taken from Hyatt and Robinson, 2004.)
PLEASE NOTE: Cane toads may be kept without a licence or permit.
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