A FERAL pig outbreak near Kingston has been controlled with investigations suggesting the animals had been illegally released near Reedy Creek.
Limestone Coast Landscape Board operations manager Mike Stevens said 20 feral pigs had been successfully removed from the area following a rapid response in partnership with affected landholders.
Landholders who reported the outbreak worked closely with landscape officers to deploy cameras, build traps, lay poison baits and shoot the animals to remove them from the landscape.
“I applaud the affected farmers for their efforts to quickly contact the Limestone Coast Landscape Board to ensure a rapid response to the outbreak and we are urging the community in the area to remain vigilant and to report any further sightings to the Landscape Board,” Mr Stevens said.
“Anyone with intelligence about who is releasing the pigs are encouraged to contact the Limestone Coast Landscape Board to assist our investigations.”
In South Australia, there are substantial penalties associated with the movement, sale, possession and release of pigs into the landscape, with individuals receiving penalties of up to $125,000 or two years imprisonment.
Furthermore landholders are responsible for destroying feral pigs on their land under section 192(1) of the Act.
The impact of feral pigs on the landscape is considerable.
They eat native plants, pasture and crops, damage soils throughout the wetlands, grasslands, and forests, eat native animals and lambs, reduce water quality, damage fences, and have significant potential to spread diseases.
They are also known to attract illegal hunters, on both private and public lands.
The prevention and early response to incursions of feral pigs is a cost effective alternative to long term control of established feral pig populations.
Any feral pig sightings should be reported via the Limestone Coast Landscape Board website www.landscape.sa.gov.au/lc or to the nearest regional office at Mount Gambier (08) 8735 1204 or Keith (08) 8755 1620.
