Millions of dollars are being spent by Rio Tinto to prevent the deadly cane toad from spreading to the Pilbara area of western Australia, where the mining behemoth operates a sizable iron ore business.
To stop the pest from moving south, the company will spend A$28 million (£14.5 million) constructing a “toad containment zone” with Curtin University in Perth and other partners.
The cane toad threatens Pilbara’s environment and generates chemicals that are deadly to native species, although it does not directly threaten Rio Tinto’s operations.
In the past, Rio Tinto has been under fire for demolishing two revered Aboriginal Pilbara that were situated over tons of iron ore.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What Happened | Rio Tinto is supporting a project to stop cane toads from spreading into Pilbara. |
| Investment | A$28 million |
| Location | Pilbara, Western Australia |
| Project Partners | Rio Tinto, Curtin University and other partners |
| Project Start | 2027 |
| Project Duration | Five years |
| Containment Zone | Approximately 7,500 square kilometres |
| Wildlife at Risk | Northern quoll, goanna and ghost bat |
| Main Objective | Protect native wildlife by limiting cane toads' access to water. |
Rio Tinto pledged to restore confidence with Indigenous communities after the decision lost the former CEO his job and sparked a massive reaction.
“Cane toads destroy the water and animals,” stated Roberta Hunter, a ranger at Australia’s Nyangumarta Warrarn Indigenous Protected Area, in response to the planned containment zone.We want to be there to halt toads when they approach our nation because we don’t want it to be destroyed.”
By erecting a barrier over 7,500 sq km (2,895 sq m) of land between the Great Sandy Desert, the toad’s water source will be cut off.
Preventing Cane Toad Spread in Pilbara
The cane toad need water every few days to survive during the dry months.
The money will be used to prevent the toad from entering storage tanks, dams, or other ground-level water sources. In 2027, the five-year project will start.
If the toad enters Pilbara, several native species are in danger. These include the ghost bat, the goanna lizard, and the northern quoll, whose population has been declining.
Cane Toads Threaten Australia's Wildlife
The Australian government claims that since then, they have been slowly advancing westward over the country’s northern terrain, covering 40 to 60 kilometers annually.
The toads use poison as a kind of self-defense, and neither illnesses nor predators can control them.
According to Curtin University lecturer Ben Phillips, if nothing is done, the toads would arrive in Pilbara in 20 years.
He stated: “The toad containment zone is a once in a lifetime opportunity to stop one of the world’s worst invasive species in its tracks and protect the region’s unique wildlife.”
