TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said a five-year campaign has largely eliminated an invasive cane toad population in Nantou County's Caotun Township from a peak of 35,000, marking a major success in efforts to protect native ecosystems.
The agency's Nantou Branch said the population in Caotun peaked in 2023. The campaign was carried out in partnership with academic institutions, the Society for Taiwan Amphibian Conservation, and local community organizations, per CNA.
The agency suspects cane toads were imported and kept as pets before being released into the wild, where they established breeding populations. A single breeding pair is capable of producing between 8,000 and 35,000 eggs each year.
It said eradicating invasive alien species is difficult and requires continuous monitoring. As the cane toad has been declared a harmful invasive species, possession and breeding are punishable by a maximum fine of NT$50,000 (US$1,600), per UDN.
The agency warned that cane toads pose a serious threat to native wildlife as they secrete toxic venom that can be fatal to predators, including dogs and other animals. Tadpoles are also toxic and disrupt local ecosystems.
Officials urged the public not to handle cane toads if they are found in the wild, as the milky-white toxin secreted from glands can cause severe skin irritation and temporary vision loss if it comes into contact with the eyes. Anyone exposed to the toxin should rinse the affected area with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention if irritation persists.
Instead of attempting to capture them, the agency advised members of the public to photograph the cane toad, record the time and location of the sighting, and report it through the Taiwan Amphibian Conservation Volunteers Facebook group or call Taiwan's 1999 government service hotline.
