WA’s Pilbara region at risk of invasion within two decades
Dunlop said the key was to convert 150 pastoral dams between Broome and Port Hedland into concrete tanks and troughs and prevent frogs from accessing them.
The idea is supported by farmers and landowners in the region and has the blessing of the state government, as well as industry support from BHP, Rio Tinto and the non-profit Skip Foundation.
Improvement work on the dams is planned to start next year.
If the cane toad reaches the Pilbara, where there are permanent water sources, making it an ideal habitat for invasive species, “it’s game over,” Dunlop said.
“A lot of people don’t realize how widespread they really are across WA,” he said.
“They have devastated native wildlife across the Kimberley and are spreading at a rate of around 40 to 50 kilometers a year; they will hit Broome in the next two to three wet seasons.
“The chance to stop them through dehydration is a unique opportunity across Australia and should be taken advantage of.”
Report co-author Professor Ben Phillips, also from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, said the “frog containment zone” would be around 150 kilometers long.
If the cane toad spreads, the species will be endangered.
“We can prevent invasion and push species back to the top of the barrier, just as firebreaks are used to stop wildfires from spreading by removing fuel and creating controlled boundaries,” Phillips said.
“There is no doubt that the arrival of the toads will cause a catastrophic decline in culturally important species, which will be felt by the Pilbara’s Traditional Custodians.
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“The animals most at risk, such as the goanna and blue-tongued skink, are culturally important to traditional owners for food, storytelling and bush tucker practices.”
Phillips said the findings could also have implications for WA’s mining industry, which could face increased costs and new conservation requirements if the frogs invade due to the changing state of local fauna.
“Our study shows that implementing a model to control the infestation of cane toads could deliver significant environmental, cultural and economic benefits for WA’s Pilbara region and beyond,” he said.
