The cane toad was first introduced to Australia in the 1930s to
help control pests in the sugar industry. It spread rapidly,
out-competing native species and devouring native insect life.
On their home turf, plant and animal populations are kept in
check by natural controls, like predators and food supply.
However, when a species is introduced — accidentally or
intentionally — into a new landscape that is not used to its
presence, the consequences can be devastating. Most of these
“non-native” species do not misbehave. But some non-native
species spread unchecked by the lack of natural competitors and
predators. They push out native species and cause ecological
chaos. These are known as “invasive” species. All habitats are
vulnerable to these invasions, from grasslands and forests to
lakes, rivers and oceans. Invasive species are appearing around
the world at an unprecedented rate and scale. Trade, transport
and agriculture are three of the more common routes, or
“pathways,” through which invasive species arr