MORE than 120 feral pigs have been culled on Kangaroo Island as part of a two-week trial using military-grade thermal imaging cameras and an aerial marksman.
Of the 126 pigs culled, about 95 per cent were detected with thermal camera technology, with only 5pc able to be seen with the naked eye,
It is estimated feral pigs cost primary producers on KI up to $1 million annually and cause significant damage to native vegetation and animals, many of which are threatened species, such as the KI dunnart.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said the Australian-first trial was a hugely successful step towards eradicating feral pigs from KI.
"This trial proved how effective the combination of an expert local aerial marksman on a helicopter equipped with military-grade thermal imaging cameras is to help eradicate feral pigs from the Island," he said.
"We estimate there are now fewer than 350 feral pigs remaining on the Island after this very successful trial culled more than 120 of these agricultural pests."
The pigs targeted in this trial were across national parks and wilderness protection areas in western KI, in remote areas inaccessible to deploy trapping and baiting equipment.
"We know just how damaging feral pigs on KI are for our livestock and horticulture industries, as well as the environment, which is why we are doing everything we can eradicate this pest," Mr Basham said.
"We are going to turn the trial of this aerially-deployed technology into a strategic eradication method to complement the existing culling techniques in use, like baiting and trapping."
A tender is now open for a $600,000 project to use military-grade technology to continue fighting feral pigs on KI.
Environment and Water Minister David Speirs said the KI community was supportive of this once-in-a-lifetime project to eradicate feral pigs.
"Feral pigs cost Kangaroo Island farmers around $1 million every year," he said.
"Removing feral pigs will eliminate these costs and reduce impacts on the recovering biodiversity, including many endangered plants and animals.
"It's heartening to see the great work of the team on the ground - and in the air - is paying off to drive down numbers of pigs."
The pigs were humanely culled, and the carcasses left on the ground, to become part of the natural food chain.
The three-year program is a partnership between the state and federal governments, with the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board.