--- title: "Authorities Euthanize World’s Largest Toad" description: "RIP Toadzilla A new amphibious critter, named \"Toadzilla\" by its discoverers, has been crowned as the world's largest known toad, clocking in at roughly 6 pounds — that's about six times the average for its species, the cane toad. \"I reached down and grabbed the cane toad and couldn't believe how big and heavy it […]" date: "2023-01-21" modified: "2023-01-22" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/authorities-euthanize-worlds-largest-toad" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "amphibians" - "australia" - "invasive species" - "the digest" --- # Authorities Euthanize World’s Largest Toad ![A cane toad dubbed "Toadzilla" has been crowned as the world's largest known toad. But sadly, our hefty heroine's story has already come to an untimely end.]() *\Image: Getty / Futurism\* ## RIP Toadzilla A new amphibious critter, [named "Toadzilla" by its discoverers](), has been crowned as the world's largest known toad, clocking in at roughly 6 pounds — that's about six times the average for its species, the already-chonky cane toad. "I reached down and grabbed the cane toad and couldn't believe how big and heavy it was," the toad's discoverer, park ranger Kylee Gray, said in a [press release](). "We dubbed it Toadzilla, and quickly put it into a container so we could remove it from the wild." "We believe it's a female due to the size," she added, because "female cane toads do grow bigger than males." A remarkable accomplishment for the wart-covered lass! Which, sadly, brings us to the bad news: our hefty heroine's story has already come to an untimely end. Cane toads are a [notoriously destructive]() invasive species to Australia, and when park rangers in Queensland, Australia's Conway national park found her out, she was donezo. https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1617236530484871168 ## Naurrrrrrrrr! That said, while cane toads have certainly wreaked havoc on Australian wildlife — they're very poisonous and have caused the local extinction of several native predators — it's really not their fault. Cane toads were brought to the Oceanic nation [by Australian officials](), who hoped that the lumpy [froggos]() would eat beetles that, at the time, were destroying the country's sugarcane crops. Clearly an ill-informed plot, considering that the toads' population, which began with a relatively measly 2,400 of them, has grown exponentially. By one recent World Wildlife Fund estimate, there are roughly 200 million cane toads living in Australia. And apparently, they're not very picky eaters — especially a big'un like Toadzilla. "A cane toad that size will eat anything it can fit into its mouth," Gray added in the statement, "and that includes insects, reptiles and small mammals." To Australia's credit, killing invasive species — which are [horrible]() for native ecosystems — is indeed the only practical solution. Still, we're sad. Toadzilla didn't *mean* to be in Australia. She was only there because Aussie authorities put her great-great-grandparents on the continent to begin with. Our thoughts are with this chonky queen, forced to atone for crimes that she didn't commit. May she rest in poisonous toad peace. **READ MORE:** *[Australian park rangers discovered a giant, toxic toad that eats anything that fits into her mouth. They named her Toadzilla.]()* \[*Insider*\] **More on invasive species:** [*Tender New Yorkers Refuse to Kill Horrible Invasive Bug*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()