Mining giant joins fight to stop killer toad march in Australia
Mining giant Rio Tinto and Curtin University are investing A$28m to build a toad containment zone in western Australia starting in 2027.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Rio Tinto invests A$28m to halt poisonous cane toad expansion
- Partnership with Curtin University officially begins in 2027
- A 7,500 sq km barrier will cut off the pest's water supply
- Native species like northern quolls face severe extinction risks
Global mining giant Rio Tinto is pumping millions of dollars into halting the spread of the lethal cane toad before it reaches the Pilbara region in western Australia, where the company operates a massive iron ore business in the country.
The firm, in collaboration with Curtin University in Perth and other partners, will spend A$28 million, equivalent to about 14.5 million pounds, to construct a toad containment zone designed to prevent the invasive pest from migrating southward.
Although the cane toad does not pose a direct threat to Rio Tinto's commercial operations, the creature produces toxins that are fatal to native wildlife and heavily threaten the Pilbara ecosystem. The company previously faced intense criticism for destroying two sacred Aboriginal rock shelters sitting above iron ore deposits in the region, an incident that cost the former chief executive his job and forced the firm to rebuild trust with Indigenous communities.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Commenting on the proposed containment zone, Roberta Hunter, a ranger in Australia's Nyangumarta Warrarn Indigenous Protected Area, noted the severe damage caused by the invasive pests to local waters and animals.
"Cane toads destroy the water and animals."
Roberta Hunter
The strategy focuses on cutting off the toad's water supply by constructing a physical barrier across 7,500 square kilometers, or roughly 2,895 square miles, of land situated between the Great Sandy Desert and the Indian Ocean. During drier months, the cane toad requires water every few days to survive, and in the absence of natural water sources, they rely heavily on artificial water points typically utilized for cattle and irrigation.
This initiative highlights the growing corporate responsibility of major industrial players toward local ecosystems, especially in regions like Australia where native wildlife is extremely vulnerable to invasive species lacking natural predators. Addressing the crisis by disrupting access to essential water sources in arid zones represents a strategic and preventative environmental intervention.
The funding will be directed toward blocking toad access to dams, storage tanks, and other ground-level water sources as part of a five-year project scheduled to kick off in 2027. Several native species remain at high risk if the toads successfully infiltrate Pilbara, including the declining northern quoll population, the goanna lizard, and the ghost bat.
Cane toads were originally introduced into Australia back in 1935 to control beetles within the sugar cane industry. Since then, they have maintained a steady westward march across the northern landscapes of the country, traveling between 40 and 60 kilometers annually according to Australian government data, with no natural predators or diseases able to control them due to their defensive poison. Ben Phillips, a professor at Curtin University, warned that the toads would reach Pilbara within two decades without active intervention.
Source: BBC Business
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