Rio Tinto funds A$28m project to stop cane toad spread

Rio Tinto has committed millions of dollars toward a project to prevent poisonous cane toads from reaching the Pilbara region in Western Australia. Alongside Curtin University and other partners, the mining company will invest A$28 million to establish a “toad containment zone” starting in 2027.

The five-year initiative aims to block the invasive species from accessing water sources across 7,500 square kilometers between the Great Sandy Desert and the Indian Ocean. By securing dams, storage tanks, and artificial water points, the project seeks to starve the toads of the water they require to survive during dry months.

While the toads do not directly threaten mining operations, their toxins pose a lethal risk to native wildlife, including the northern quoll, goanna lizards, and ghost bats. This environmental commitment follows previous criticism faced by Rio Tinto regarding the destruction of sacred Aboriginal rock shelters in the Pilbara, an incident that led to leadership changes and a corporate pledge to rebuild trust with Indigenous communities.