The Invasive Species Council has welcomed a landmark $28 million commitment to stop cane toads invading Western Australia’s Pilbara region, describing it as a major opportunity to protect millions of hectares of habitat and some of Australia’s most vulnerable native wildlife.
The funding commitment from Rio Tinto Iron Ore will support the establishment of a Toad Containment Zone south of Broome, designed to prevent cane toads from continuing their devastating march across northern Australia and reaching the Pilbara.
The ambitious project will create a waterless barrier across a naturally dry corridor between the Indian Ocean and Great Sandy Desert, modifying more than 200 artificial water points and approximately 685 pieces of water infrastructure to prevent cane toads surviving the dry season and spreading south.
If successful, the zone could protect 27 million hectares of habitat, including the last major stronghold of the endangered northern quoll, along with dozens of other native species threatened by cane toads.
‘We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stop cane toads in their tracks and save millions of hectares of Australian wildlife habitat from one of our most destructive invasive species,’ Invasive Species Council CEO Jack Gough said.
‘For almost a century, cane toads have spread across northern Australia, devastating native wildlife wherever they go. This investment gives us a genuine chance to finally draw a line in the sand and stop their march south.
‘Previous efforts to contain cane toads have failed, but the Pilbara’s unique landscape gives us a real chance of success. Its naturally dry conditions and limited waterways create an opportunity to stop cane toads before they reach one of Australia’s most important wildlife strongholds.
‘If cane toads reach the Pilbara, native animals like the northern quoll, kaluta, ningaui, planigales and Pilbara rock goanna could suffer devastating declines. Some of these species are found nowhere else on Earth.
‘This $28 million commitment shows what can be achieved when Traditional Owners, scientists, pastoralists and industry work together to protect nature. It’s a major investment in prevention, which is always more effective and less costly than trying to repair the damage once an invasive species has established.
‘The challenge now is making sure the containment zone is supported by long-term monitoring, surveillance and community involvement so cane toads cannot find a way through.
‘We congratulate everyone involved in bringing this ambitious project to life. If successful, it could become one of Australia’s most significant environmental biosecurity achievements.’
The containment zone is expected to begin implementation in early 2027, ahead of the predicted arrival of cane toads in the region around 2030.
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Background
- Cane toads were introduced to Queensland in 1935 and have since spread across more than one million square kilometres of Australia, causing severe declines in native wildlife populations.
- Cane toads are highly toxic to native predators, including northern quolls, goannas, snakes and other animals that attempt to eat them. In some areas, cane toads have caused declines of up to 90% in native animal populations.
- The Pilbara is the main remaining stronghold of the endangered northern quoll, with populations elsewhere severely affected by cane toad poisoning.
- An estimated 20 to 24 additional native animal species could be pushed towards extinction if cane toads spread into the Pilbara, including unique small mammals and reptiles found nowhere else.
- The proposed Toad Containment Zone will be established approximately 100 kilometres south of Broome, using the region’s naturally dry landscape to prevent cane toads spreading further south.
- The project involves Traditional Owners, Indigenous ranger groups, pastoralists, the resources sector and scientists from Curtin and Deakin universities.
- The Karajarri and Nyangumarta Traditional Owner groups have identified cane toads as a threat to Country and have been involved in collaborative planning for the containment zone.
- Modifications to pastoral water infrastructure could also benefit landholders by reducing water evaporation and protecting dung beetles, which play an important role in managing cattle waste and reducing parasite transmission.
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