AN outbreak of feral pigs near Kingston on the Limestone Coast has been successfully eradicated by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board.
Up to 20 feral pigs were likely to have been illegally released in the Reedy Creek area, south east of Kingston, according to Limestone Coast Landscape Board operations manager Mike Stevens.
"The control efforts succeeded with close to 20 feral pigs being successfully removed, a subsequent investigation by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board indicate the pigs were likely to have been illegally released in the Reedy Creek area south-east of Kingston," he said.
Following reports of a pig outbreak, Limestone Coast Landscape Board officers worked in partnership with the affected landholders to rapidly eradicate the feral pigs through methods such as shooting, trapping and poisoning.
"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 Board," Mr Stevens said.
"We do not want feral pigs to establish in our region as they would have substantial economic impacts to farmers and cause significant environmental destruction"
"Anyone with intelligence about who is releasing the pigs are encouraged to contact the LC Landscape Board to assist our investigations."
Under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, pigs are declared for control and the Act includes separate declarations for domestic and feral pigs - feral pigs are pigs that are not held in captivity.
In SA, there are substantial penalties associated with the movement, sale, possession and release of pigs in to the landscape, with individuals receiving penalties of up to $125,000 or imprisonment for two years, with landholders 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 in wetlands, grasslands and forests, eat native animals and lambs, reduce water quality, damage fences and have significant potential to spread diseases and 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.
In SA, domestic pigs must be identified and confined to ensure they are clearly differentiated from feral pigs.
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