This picture of toad impact is less cataclysmic than
you hear in the pub conversations, but the evidence is
clear. The most detailed data come from Fogg Dam,
near Darwin, where my research team is based. We
expected frog-eating snakes - like death adders - to
become less common after toads arrived, but in fact
the reverse was true. All of the frog-eating snake
species became more common, because they were no
longer being eaten by goannas (which were virtually
eliminated). Indeed, for the first time in 20 years we
And even for vulnerable predators like goannas and
quolls, the impact of Cane Toads may be fairly short
term. The critical evidence comes from places where
toads have been present for decades, like northeastern
Queensland where the toads were introduced in 1935.
Species like Yellow-spotted Goannas and Northern
Quolls presumably were decimated (as they are at the
invasion front today), but if you visit northeastern
Queensland today, you’ll find places where these
predators are common. They have learned not to eat
‘Even for VULNERABLE PREDATORS like goannas and quolls, the
IMPACT of Cane Toads may be fairly SHORT TERM . The Aussie
fauna is a lot more resilient than we give it credit for.’
started to encounter Black-headed Pythons
Cane Toads - and as long as you keep toads off the
frequently. At his study site in Western Australia, Sean menu, you can live side-by-side with them with no
Doody has shown that the popular and spectacularly
problems. The Aussie fauna is a lot more resilient
beautiful Crimson Finch likewise benefits from the
than we give it credit for.
goanna purge. So yes, Cane Toads are an environ-
mental disaster - they kill thousands of apex
predators - but they also provide more food, and
Above: bigger and wartier than any native Australian frog,
greater safety, for many smaller species. As in most
the Cane Toad is easy to identify – and to loathe. Image by
things in nature, every new challenge creates winners
Matt Greenlees.
as well as losers.