Rio Tinto funds $28 million waterless barrier against cane toad invasion
Rio Tinto and Rhodes Ridge are funding a $28 million waterless barrier against cane toads in Western Australia.
A major plan to stop cane toads invading Western Australia's Pilbara is underway. Rio Tinto and the Rhodes Ridge joint venture are funding a $28 million containment project.
The plan creates a 7,500 square-kilometre waterless barrier south of Broome. It starts in 2027.
Scientists from Curtin University say the barrier works by cutting off artificial water sources. This includes dams and storage tanks on six pastoral stations.
Removing water will prevent toads from spreading further. The toads are currently about 100 kilometres from Broome.
Construction will take two to five years. Cane toads have already killed millions of Australian native animals including snakes, goannas and crocodiles.
The Pilbara is home to plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth.
- $28 million
- Funding
- 7,500 square kilometres
- Barrier size
- 100 kilometres
- Toad distance from Broome
- Construction 2027, takes 2-5 years
- Timeline
Why it mattersWithout intervention, cane toads will devastate the Pilbara's unique wildlife and ecosystems, making this one of Australia's last chances to stop them.
AustraliaWestern Australia's most biodiverse region faces extinction of rare species if cane toads reach it; this project aims to protect the Pilbara's irreplaceable native animals and plants.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
