Rio Tinto, together with Curtin University and other organizations, is committing A$28 million toward constructing a barrier designed to halt the advancement of cane toads into the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The mining company operates a major iron ore facility in the area and seeks to prevent the invasive species from reaching the region and damaging its natural environment.
The proposed containment zone will span approximately 7,500 square kilometers of land situated between the Great Sandy Desert and the Indian Ocean. The project strategy centers on eliminating the toad’s access to water sources by blocking dams, storage tanks, and other ground-level water points that typically sustain the species during drier periods. Cane toads require water every few days to survive when conditions are arid, and without access to natural or artificial water sources, their progression southward would be significantly impeded. The initiative is scheduled to commence in 2027 and will operate over a five-year timeframe.
The cane toad poses a significant threat to the Pilbara’s ecosystem, as the species produces toxins that are lethal to native wildlife. Several species are vulnerable to the toad’s presence, including the northern quoll, whose populations have been declining, as well as goanna lizards and ghost bats. Originally introduced to Australia in 1935 to manage beetles within the sugar cane industry, cane toads have since migrated westward across the country’s northern regions at an average pace of between 40 and 60 kilometers annually. Researchers estimate that without intervention, the toads would reach the Pilbara within two decades.
The investment also reflects Rio Tinto’s broader commitment to rebuilding relationships with Indigenous communities in the region. A ranger from the Nyangumarta Warrarn Indigenous Protected Area expressed support for the initiative, noting the species’ destructive impact on water resources and wildlife. The decision represents an effort to demonstrate environmental stewardship following previous controversies regarding the company’s activities in the area.
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