Riverina and Murray Landholders Tackle Feral Pig Problem

More than 8,700 feral pigs have been culled in the Riverina and Murray regions since the $13 million 2023/24 Feral Pig Program began in October 2023.

The NSW Government continues to build on the success of the program, with an additional $13.1 million committed to tackling feral pig and pest numbers across the state over the next 12 months.

Since the start of the program, the Murray region has controlled almost 2,500 feral pigs, which has a focus on upskilling local landholders to use automated training technology.

Using cameras and motion sensors, the automated trap technology is a time-efficient and easy method for farmers to control feral pigs, allowing them to remotely activate traps using their phones from anywhere at any time.

From Griffith to Wagga, Riverina landholders have also played a large role in the program, controlling more than 6,000 feral pigs across the region.

The program has resulted in a knockdown of pig numbers across the Riverina and the Murray and Local Land Services will continue to support and encourage farmers to participate in coordinated control programs with their neighbours to keep tackling feral pigs.

Since October 2023, across the Riverina and Murray regions:

• 2,464 pigs have been culled in the Murray region;

• 6,280 pigs have been culled across the Riverina;

• 723 properties have been involved;

• 8 information and training sessions have been held;

• 881 one-on-one consultations; and

• 1,834kg of free bait issued to landholders.

A key part of the program has been providing farmers and landholders with the tools, education and support to get on top of the problem.

More than 112,888 feral pigs have been culled across the state since October 2023, with almost 8 percent of these culled in the Riverina and Murray regions.

Agriculture Minister, Tara Moriarty said the NSW Government was committed to continuing the success of the program to ensure feral pig numbers continued to come down here in the Riverina and Murray.

“I want to thank farmers across the Riverina and Murray who have worked with LLS biosecurity officers to reduce the impacts of these pest animals,” Ms Moriarty said.

“It’s been a huge, shared effort but we still have work to do.

“That’s why we’ve committed a further $13.1 million to build on the successes so far.

“I encourage landholders to continue to participate in these control pgorams.

“Landholder participation is essential to maximising the effectiveness of a program.”

• Topics:

• The Environment
• Pets and Animals