Eighty years ago cane toads were introduced to Australia to eat beetles in the sugar cane. About 200 were released around Cairns in North Queensland. They were unsuccessful at controlling the beetle population but as this picture shows adapted quickly to the Australian environment and have spread across the country at a rate of about 40 to 60km per year. There were no toads in Australia before this and their warty skin has poison glands that can harm native animals that try to eat them. I read that our local council is using a toxin made from the toads skin to poison cane toad tadpoles like these in Gladstone waterways.
