Page "Cane toad" Paragraph 26

Before the early 1840s, the cane toad had been introduced into Martinique and Barbados, from French Guiana and Guyana.

An introduction to Jamaica was made in 1844 in an attempt to reduce the rat population.

Despite its failure to control the rodents, the cane toad was introduced to Puerto Rico in the early 20th century in the hope that it would counter a beetle infestation ravaging the sugarcane plantations.

The Puerto Rican scheme was successful and halted the economic damage caused by the beetles, prompting scientists in the 1930s to promote it as an ideal solution to agricultural pests.