Feral pigs are a major threat to the ecological, social and economic values of aquatic ecosystems in northern Australia. They damage the natural environment, displace native species, impact on food resources used by Indigenous groups and reduce agricultural production. Resources used to control these feral pig impacts are extensive; however, there is little evidence that specific control activities are achieving their desired outcomes.
This collaborative project within the Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub of the National Environmental Science Programme aims to provide a conceptual understanding of the threats feral pigs represent to ecological values of wetlands in Northern Australia and what management controls achieve; and validate these concepts using targeted comparative research.
Field research is taking place in the Archer River Basin in Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula to take advantage of control fencing undertaken by Indigenous groups over the past five years. Initial results indicate that fencing can control the access of feral pigs to wetland areas and therefore limit the physical damage occurring in wetland areas.
Further data collection in conjunction with management activities undertaken by Indigenous groups will provide for the detailed analysis of the most effective and efficient approaches and will define how to measure success in feral pig management. These measures and approaches can then be applied to other parts of Northern Australia and other areas where feral pigs are a threat to aquatic ecosystems.