The Despicable Cane Toad

Without doubt the most unloved animal in Northern Australia.

Way back in 1935 some public servant had a stroke of genius in trying to control the Cane Beetle, which was wreaking havoc in the sugar cane fields.

So they decided to import 102 of the vile creatures from Hawaii and bred them up to 2400 in number before releasing them in North Queensland cane fields.

They then set about eating pretty much every small creature they could wrap their mouths around, including native frogs.

The toads were selected for import for the one reason that should have rung alarm bells - they are near indestructible.

Their defensive weapon are highly toxic poison glands on their back that can kill another animal in minutes. Snakes, dogs, cats, birds all fall victim to their neurotoxin. Even humans can become extremely sick.

They breed at a phenomenal rate and today their are hundreds of millions of them right across the North of Australia from East to West, and they are advancing southwards.

And the great irony of this disaster? They made a negligible impact on the Cane Beetle, because there were better things to eat!