National Feral Pig Action Plan
Victoria
Find out more about feral pigs projects taking place across Victoria.
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Statewide
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
Location: Victoria
The Victorian Government’s Biodiversity 2037 strategy is managed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), within Environment, Community and Partnerships, and a portfolio of projects are addressing this Plan, including two dedicated feral pig projects in Tatong (led by DELWP) and in East Gippsland (led by Parks Victoria). Feral pigs are also managed through DELWP’s Forest, Fires and Regions Division, which has six regions across the State. Their ‘’Good Neighbour’’ program supports legislative obligations for invasive species management by land managers. The program operates at the public-private interface to manage pest and weeds issues that neighbours to public lands experience. Many feral pig activities between landholders, DELWP and Catchment Management Authorities are linked in this program.
State-wide Invasive Species Programme- Landscape Scale Feral Pig Control
Total Project area – 27,000 Km sq.
Pig numbers have been increasing over the last few years with a particular increase noticed by agency field staff and landholders since the 2019/20 bushfire event. New sightings have been recorded in areas where pigs have not previously been seen, both in the 2019/20 fire footprint and in adjacent areas.
This is a nil tenure feral pig control and surveillance programme across Eastern Victoria, with the aim of minimising and where possible, eliminate damage to threatened ecological vegetation communities, pastures, predation of stock and other agricultural and environmental values. Delivery involves various stakeholders (with an emphasis on delivery through Traditional Owners groups) and the additional aim of strengthening cohesive, collaborative and coordinated partnerships between stakeholders from all pertinent land tenures. Control options include a variety of methods including baiting, trapping and exclusion fencing, however, initial control methods will use HOGGONE bait and bait stations.
A strong emphasis on surveillance will be maintained throughout the life of the project, ensuring precise and up to date information is continually collected and entered in appropriate databases including the Victorian Biological Atlas. Surveillance will include, camera survey, (pre and post control) and drone mounted thermal imagery surveys to analyse feasibility of further survey methods and control activities.
Surveillance will include determining pig concentrations and their access to agricultural and ecological assets and values. There is also a biosecurity element to monitor for the presence and containment of disease using interagency expertise (AgVic).
Additional funding will assist agency staff and landholders to reverse the post-fire trends of increasing pig populations by augmenting an ongoing survey and monitoring programme with the aim of establishing population density and dynamics across all of Eastern Victoria.
Determine established and new pathways for pig invasive, requiring cross border collaboration, (NSW) and a strong alignment with the objectives of the National Feral Pig Action Plan (NFPAP) in providing support and guidance to all land managers to deliver effective, coordinated, sustained, long term and humane best practice management of feral pigs.
Summary of objectives
- Minimise and where possible, eliminate damage to threatened ecological vegetation communities, pastures, crops, predation of stock and other agricultural and environmental values.
- Continue liaising and building relationships with private landholders in determining areas of concern and methods of sharing information (Feral Scan).
- Focus on areas where threatened tuberous and rhizomatous vegetation is located and is identified as being damaged, or potentially damaged by feral pig activity, across all land tenures. (Orchids, lilies, hypogeal fungi, etc).
- Biosecurity control: prevent or contain the spread African swine fever, brucellosis, pseudorabies and tularaemia which could adversely affect agricultural values, such as the pork industry.
- Prevent damage to recreational sites, exposure and danger to recreational site users, hikers, campers, mountain bike riders, motor bike riders, etc.
- Provide opportunities to Traditional Owner groups (Moogji Aboriginal Council) to provide control activities and assist in surveys.
To read about some of the work being conducted by DELWP and Moogji Aboriginal Council, read the NFPAP newsletter feature article – Managing feral pigs and healing Country in Eastern Victoria- May 2022
Location: Victoria
Parks Victoria is a statutory authority of the Victorian Government acting in accordance with the Parks Victoria Act 2018. Parks Victoria recognises the value and importance of working in partnership with Traditional Owners to manage parks and reserves in a culturally sensitive and ecologically appropriate way.
Parks Victoria is responsible for managing a diverse estate of more than 4 million hectares including 3,000 land and marine parks and reserves making up 18 per cent of Victoria’s landmass, 75 per cent of Victoria’s wetlands and 70 per cent of Victoria’s coastline. Victoria’s parks are home to more than 4,300 native plants and around 1,000 native animal species.
Parks Victoria works in partnership with other government and non-government organisations and community groups, catchment management authorities, private land owners, friends groups, volunteers, licensed tour operators, lessees, research institutes and the broader community.
The broad distribution of feral pigs in Victorian is largely known and the most susceptible assets that need to be protected from feral pigs is targeted for feral pig removal in accordance with available resources. Feral pigs are controlled using a range of techniques including trapping, baiting, ground shooting and aerial shooting.
In 2019/20 feral pig control programs were delivered in East Gippsland including the Alpine and Snowy River National Parks to protect flora and fauna recovering from the 19/20 bushfires. Barmah, Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray Sunset National park continue to be focus areas for feral pig control in the north west of the state to protect internationally significant Ramsar wetlands, riparian areas and wetland refuges.
Location: Victoria
Agriculture Victoria is building capacity and capability to provide best practice management support for feral pig management to private landholders through community led action. Whilst there are no networks of community-led groups facilitated by Agriculture Victoria to manage feral pigs, this is an area that is gaining support. The majority of activity (trapping, baiting, aerial shooting) has largely been on public land borders with private land.
Barmah National Park
Location: Barmah National Park, Victoria
Parks Victoria is a statutory authority of the Victorian Government acting in accordance with the Parks Victoria Act 2018. Parks Victoria recognises the value and importance of working in partnership with Traditional Owners to manage parks and reserves in a culturally sensitive and ecologically appropriate way.
Parks Victoria is responsible for managing a diverse estate of more than 4 million hectares including 3,000 land and marine parks and reserves making up 18 per cent of Victoria’s landmass, 75 per cent of Victoria’s wetlands and 70 per cent of Victoria’s coastline. Victoria’s parks are home to more than 4,300 native plants and around 1,000 native animal species.
Parks Victoria works in partnership with other government and non-government organisations and community groups, catchment management authorities, private land owners, friends groups, volunteers, licensed tour operators, lessees, research institutes and the broader community.
The broad distribution of feral pigs in Victorian is largely known and the most susceptible assets that need to be protected from feral pigs is targeted for feral pig removal in accordance with available resources. Feral pigs are controlled using a range of techniques including trapping, baiting, ground shooting and aerial shooting.
In 2019/20 feral pig control programs were delivered in East Gippsland including the Alpine and Snowy River National Parks to protect flora and fauna recovering from the 19/20 bushfires. Barmah, Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray Sunset National park continue to be focus areas for feral pig control in the north west of the state to protect internationally significant Ramsar wetlands, riparian areas and wetland refuges.
Bundoora
Location: Bundoora, Victoria
AgriBio Victoria have been active in preparedness activities for an African swine fever incursion into Australia. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a field friendly method of detecting DNA or RNA of organisms of interest. It is similar in analytical sensitivity to a PCR, but run in the field it is suited to bad conditions with minimal training (e.g.40-400 virions).The team at AgriBio Victoria has validated the use of LAMP machines using liquid reagents to test for FMD and are now in process of converting to FMD freeze dried strips and rolling this out to District Veterinary Officers in Victoria and South Australia (20 machines now in the regions in Victoria and 3 in SA). As of 2019, AgriBio has provided a ASF LAMP unit for use in Dili, Timor Leste. This uses liquid reagents, though work to convert the test to use freeze dried strips is currently in progress. The Timor Leste work in 2019 found that the ASF virus could be detected in both saliva and faeces. The use of a faecal sample, collected from a recent feeding site, rather than a blood or saliva sample, would be very useful and more practical for ASF surveillance in feral pigs. More work is presently being done on this in Timor Leste. A new CSF LAMP has also been developed by AgriBio that appears to be working successfully in early trials. Further testing and implementation in Timor Leste, where CSF is endemic, is currently underway.
Geelong
Landscape Genetics – CSIRO & the Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment
Location: Victoria
This project, Landscape genetics of feral pigs in Australia, is being supported by DAWE and led by CSIRO. This pilot study aims to develop a methodology to enable a cost-effective delineation of sub-populations of feral pigs in mainland Australia. The mapping of sub-populations is informative and useful information to support planning of population control programs as well as inform surveillance programs of exotic diseases. The pilot involves sampling of approximately 200 pigs from northern (NT) and southern (NSW) populations and comparing the performance of tissue, blood and hair samples collected from feral pigs. Opportunities to refine the genotyping analytics to reduce testing costs will also be identified. Recommendations on potential scaling up to a national, phase 2 project will be made upon completion.
Heidelberg
Genetics Research – Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Location: Heidelberg, Victoria
Genetic profiling work to determine the population structure of feral pigs across south-east Australia is being undertaken at the Arthur Rylah Institute, a research facility managed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Victoria, in collaboration with public land managers across Victoria, NSW and South Australia. This work is being conducted to determine whether populations are discrete and self-contained or whether individuals are dispersing to form new populations. Outcomes from this study will be used to guide management actions for populations that are spreading or eradicate discrete groups. A network of people (including public and private land managers and recreational hunters) is being established to provide tissue and blood samples for analysis as budget/capacity is not available for the project team to trap pigs. The budget for this project is $160,000 over two years, in addition to in-kind contributions by land management agencies to undertake control work and collect samples.
Lerderderg State Park
Location: Lerderderg State Park, Victoria
Parks Victoria is a statutory authority of the Victorian Government acting in accordance with the Parks Victoria Act 2018. Parks Victoria recognises the value and importance of working in partnership with Traditional Owners to manage parks and reserves in a culturally sensitive and ecologically appropriate way.
Parks Victoria is responsible for managing a diverse estate of more than 4 million hectares including 3,000 land and marine parks and reserves making up 18 per cent of Victoria’s landmass, 75 per cent of Victoria’s wetlands and 70 per cent of Victoria’s coastline. Victoria’s parks are home to more than 4,300 native plants and around 1,000 native animal species.
Parks Victoria works in partnership with other government and non-government organisations and community groups, catchment management authorities, private land owners, friends groups, volunteers, licensed tour operators, lessees, research institutes and the broader community.
The broad distribution of feral pigs in Victoria is largely known and the most susceptible assets that need to be protected from feral pigs is targeted for feral pig removal in accordance with available resources. Feral pigs are controlled using a range of techniques including trapping, baiting, ground shooting and aerial shooting.
In 2019/20, feral pig control programs were delivered in East Gippsland including the Alpine and Snowy River National Parks to protect flora and fauna recovering from the 19/20 bushfires. Barmah, Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray Sunset National Park continue to be focus areas for feral pig control in the north west of the state to protect internationally significant Ramsar wetlands, riparian areas and wetland refuges.
Melbourne
Notifiable and zoonotic disease surveillance in feral pigs in Victoria – Agriculture Victoria
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Disease surveillance work is being conducted at a statewide level by Agriculture Victoria using samples obtained from captured feral pigs across a number of sites in Victoria. A total of 45 samples have been collected to date; outcomes from surveillance testing for Leptospirosis, Brucella and Influenza A has not yet been published due to the small sample size. Further sample collection from agencies involved in feral pig control is underway.
Murray-Sunset National Park
Location: Murray-Sunset, Victoria
Parks Victoria is a statutory authority of the Victorian Government acting in accordance with the Parks Victoria Act 2018. Parks Victoria recognises the value and importance of working in partnership with Traditional Owners to manage parks and reserves in a culturally sensitive and ecologically appropriate way.
Parks Victoria is responsible for managing a diverse estate of more than 4 million hectares including 3,000 land and marine parks and reserves making up 18 per cent of Victoria’s landmass, 75 per cent of Victoria’s wetlands and 70 per cent of Victoria’s coastline. Victoria’s parks are home to more than 4,300 native plants and around 1,000 native animal species.
Parks Victoria works in partnership with other government and non-government organisations and community groups, catchment management authorities, private land owners, friends groups, volunteers, licensed tour operators, lessees, research institutes and the broader community.
The broad distribution of feral pigs in Victorian is largely known and the most susceptible assets that need to be protected from feral pigs is targeted for feral pig removal in accordance with available resources. Feral pigs are controlled using a range of techniques including trapping, baiting, ground shooting and aerial shooting.
In 2019/20 feral pig control programs were delivered in East Gippsland including the Alpine and Snowy River National Parks to protect flora and fauna recovering from the 19/20 bushfires. Barmah, Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray Sunset National park continue to be focus areas for feral pig control in the north west of the state to protect internationally significant Ramsar wetlands, riparian areas and wetland refuges.
Otways
Location: Otways, Victoria
Partners involved: Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Parks Victoria, Agriculture Victoria, Landcare networks, Barwon Water, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, Hunter Land Management, Victorian Wildlife Management
Feral pigs are an emerging vertebrate pest species in the Otways and through strategic and informed integrated best practice management, localised eradication of feral pigs in target areas may be possible.
This project aims to critically assess feral pig populations across the Otways by identifying regions where management is necessary to preserve EBPC listed flora and fauna and critical infrastructure, including special water supply catchment. Targeted research is being conducted to establish baseline project data and define critical habitats where feral pigs pose greatest threat to natural and cultural heritage values. The project will develop early detection protocols using eDNA and establish long-term camera monitoring of feral pigs within critical habitat areas. This information, together with outcomes from applied research, will be used to develop a strategy to mitigate feral pig impacts across the region.
GPS data loggers will be used on feral pigs across separate pig populations in the Otways to understand seasonal pig movement and resource utilisation across different sub-regions and inform the structure of pig-control programs. The remote camera grid system will be optimised to confidently measure abundance using the Spatially Explicit Capture-Mark Recapture technique. Localised eradication of pig populations will be targeted through integrated feral pig best practice management program and GPS data from pig collars. In collaboration with Landcare project partners, three workshops will be delivered annually, focusing on the ecological and agricultural impacts of pigs and deer, effective management techniques and the use of FeralScan. These annual workshops will be delivered to both Community and Land Management agencies. The project will also coordinate and direct community-led pest control efforts across the Otways and land management agency staff will be trained in effective feral pig and deer control techniques. A state-wide network, involving agencies including Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Parks Victoria and Agriculture Victoria as well as land managers through Landcare, to share knowledge and key learnings about feral pig and deer management in the region will be created.
This project will also provide information to support other Wild Otways Initiative projects, such as the Protecting biodiversity in the Otway Ranges, Bells Beach and Great Ocean Road Hinterland from Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback project by identifying where feral pigs and deer may facilitate the spread of Phytophthora cinnamomi and collaborations with the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation to identify areas of cultural significance in the region that are under threat from feral pig and deer activity.
This program is being funded through the Australian Government’s Environment Restoration Fund and is being delivered by the Conservation Ecology Centre for the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. It will be completed by June 2023.
Snowy River National Park
Location: Snowy River National Park, Victoria
Parks Victoria is a statutory authority of the Victorian Government acting in accordance with the Parks Victoria Act 2018. Parks Victoria recognises the value and importance of working in partnership with Traditional Owners to manage parks and reserves in a culturally sensitive and ecologically appropriate way.
Parks Victoria is responsible for managing a diverse estate of more than 4 million hectares including 3,000 land and marine parks and reserves making up 18 per cent of Victoria’s landmass, 75 per cent of Victoria’s wetlands and 70 per cent of Victoria’s coastline. Victoria’s parks are home to more than 4,300 native plants and around 1,000 native animal species.
Parks Victoria works in partnership with other government and non-government organisations and community groups, catchment management authorities, private land owners, friends groups, volunteers, licensed tour operators, lessees, research institutes and the broader community.
The broad distribution of feral pigs in Victoria is largely known and the most susceptible assets that need to be protected from feral pigs is targeted for feral pig removal in accordance with available resources. Feral pigs are controlled using a range of techniques including trapping, baiting, ground shooting and aerial shooting.
In 2019/20, feral pig control programs were delivered in East Gippsland including the Alpine and Snowy River National Parks to protect flora and fauna recovering from the 19/20 bushfires. Barmah, Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray Sunset National Park continue to be focus areas for feral pig control in the north west of the state to protect internationally significant Ramsar wetlands, riparian areas and wetland refuges.
National Feral Pig Action Plan
Tatong, Strathbogie and Samaria
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning & Parks Victoria
Location: Benalla, Victoria
A three year trapping project to reduce the impacts of feral pigs on public land in state forests and national parks in the Tatong, Samaria and Strathbogie areas across north east Victoria has just been completed. This resulted in 64 feral pigs being trapped and dispatched. DELWP are also working with landowners, especially those who adjoin public land, to better understand the level of impacts the pigs are having. Remote cameras and satellite tracking were used to inform feral pig movements. The project was funded through the Victorian Government’s Biodiversity Response Planning Program and involves Forests and Fire Management Victoria, Agriculture Victoria, the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority and Parks Victoria.
A feral pig control program focussed on decreasing habitat destruction of a range of threatened flora and fauna species is also underway with support from the Biodiversity Response Planning program in Tatong. This project is being led by DELWP in partnership with Parks Victoria, Devpement of Jobs, Transport and Resources (Agriculture Victoria), HVP Plantations and local landholders.
Warby Ovens National Park
Location: Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria
Parks Victoria is a statutory authority of the Victorian Government acting in accordance with the Parks Victoria Act 2018. Parks Victoria recognises the value and importance of working in partnership with Traditional Owners to manage parks and reserves in a culturally sensitive and ecologically appropriate way.
Parks Victoria is responsible for managing a diverse estate of more than 4 million hectares including 3,000 land and marine parks and reserves making up 18 per cent of Victoria’s landmass, 75 per cent of Victoria’s wetlands and 70 per cent of Victoria’s coastline. Victoria’s parks are home to more than 4,300 native plants and around 1,000 native animal species.
Parks Victoria works in partnership with other government and non-government organisations and community groups, catchment management authorities, private land owners, friends groups, volunteers, licensed tour operators, lessees, research institutes and the broader community.
The broad distribution of feral pigs in Victoria is largely known and the most susceptible assets that need to be protected from feral pigs is targeted for feral pig removal in accordance with available resources. Feral pigs are controlled using a range of techniques including trapping, baiting, ground shooting and aerial shooting.
In 2019/20, feral pig control programs were delivered in East Gippsland including the Alpine and Snowy River National Parks to protect flora and fauna recovering from the 19/20 bushfires. Barmah, Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray Sunset National Park continue to be focus areas for feral pig control in the north west of the state to protect internationally significant Ramsar wetlands, riparian areas and wetland refuges.