WILD SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2006   Students taking invertebrate samples 120 High School Students from across Perth Metropolitian region participated in Wild Science Festival held at Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre from 16th-18th August, which concluded with a 'Stop the Toad' Community Evening in which over 30 members of the community discovered how they can help stop the green menace from invading WA.   Wild Science Festival, was an opportunity for students interested in science to meet inspirational science presenters who are passionate about wildlife and preservation of the natural world and have continued to follow their passion to make successful careers in science, as well as making a difference in solving real life, relevant and topical environmental and ethical issues as a result of humans interacting with their natural environment.   Dr Mitch Ladyman shares his passion Students were enthralled with Dr Mitch Ladyman, Senior Zoologist and Principal Consultant to the booming mining industry in WA, who spoke on "following your passion". Mitch's own story starts with him dropping out of school to follow his passion for snakes, with his ears ringing with his Dad's words "…playing with snakes will get you nowhere..". Dr Ladyman then let his passion guide him through a UWA degree in Zoology and a PhD and (you guessed it!) his thesis was on the physiology of Tiger Snakes. After achieving the highest academic honours (a PhD with Distinction) Mitch then climbed the corporate ladder to become one of the states leading biological consultant to the booming WA mining industry.   At the tender age of 35, Dr Ladyman has followed his passion, carved out a successful career in the 'Wild Sciences' doing the thing he loves and enthralls audiences with his ongoing passion for his work and love of nature. With live snakes accompanying him, there was no one who didn't have his ears and eyes glued to his message of "…follow your passion and a career will follow…". Mitch's 'down to earth' enthusiasm is infectious with a "..If I can anyone can do it.." message. Not bad for a country boy who fooled around with snakes.   The next speaker extended the students eyes from their own backyard to the wilds of Peru. Anthony Taggart, Director and Founder of Zoo Peru Inc as a young boy in WA saw the plight of the exotic wildlife in the Amazon, decimated by the black market poachers and illegal wildlife trade. Many people at this point would say "What could I do - I am only one person?" But not Anthony! Funding his own way to Peru he began a one-man campaign to rescue wildlife from the poachers. That was 10 years ago.   Anthony gives a remarkable presentation on the animals that he has rescued and the wonders of the Amazon, so that no one leaves without a sense that this Eden on earth must be preserved. With stories of death threats from poachers, swimming with Piranha's and wrestling with anacondas - the audience was on the edge of their seats as they briefly shared the passion which has driven Anthony and mobolised others wherever he goes, to found Zoo Peru Inc in Peru, a refuge for rescued and endangered wildlife. Anthony's simple message is " One man can make a difference!" The Wild Science Festival including the Stop the Toad Community Evening was an initiative supported by the Australian Government as part of National Science Week.