Researchers and volunteers in Nantou, Taiwan, have reduced the population of invasive cane toads through a years-long eradication campaign [1, 2].
The success of the program is critical because cane toads threaten local ecosystems. A single female toad can lay up to 35,000 eggs per year [1], allowing the species to overwhelm native habitats, and outcompete indigenous wildlife.
Efforts in Nantou County, located in central Taiwan, reached a significant milestone recently. At the peak of the campaign in 2024, workers and volunteers caught 35,000 toads [2]. This aggressive removal strategy aimed to break the breeding cycle of the invasive amphibians—a necessary step given their high reproductive rate.
Recent data suggests the population has collapsed. Between January and June 2025, researchers found only 54 adult cane toads [2]. This represents a sharp decline from the thousands captured during the previous year's peak efforts.
The campaign relied on a combination of professional researchers and community volunteers to track and remove the animals. By targeting adult populations, the team aimed to prevent the next generation of thousands of eggs from hatching, and spreading further into the central Taiwanese landscape.
While the numbers indicate the effort is nearing success, researchers continue to monitor the region. The goal remains the total elimination of the species from the county to ensure the long-term stability of the local environment [1, 2].
“A single female toad can lay up to 35,000 eggs per year”
The drastic reduction in adult cane toad sightings in Nantou demonstrates the efficacy of aggressive, community-led eradication programs. Because the species possesses an exponential reproductive capacity, the drop from 35,000 to 54 adults suggests the population has fallen below a critical threshold, potentially preventing a rebound and allowing native biodiversity to recover.
