Pigs Have Flown
MEDIA RELEASE
09 December 2011
PIGS HAVE FLOWN
Controlling Sus scrofa populations and their impacts in Queensland’s Channel Country
Desert Channels Queensland’s “Pigs Might Fly 2011-2012” program, funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative (www.nrm.gov.au) is aimed at preventing the spread of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) down Queensland’s inland river systems towards sensitive wetlands like Coongie Lakes and Lake Eyre itself.
Monitoring conducted earlier this year found feral pigs were causing severe damage to river banks and floodplains. Vigorous rooting had lead to unstable river banks and coupled with wallows, the fouling of water sources. Evidence of the consumption of native mussels and crayfish by S. scrofa was present on water edges supported by videos and photographs taken during kayak transects and aerial surveys.
In November 2011 aerial control works were conducted across the Lower Barcoo, Cooper Creek and Lower Diamantina systems with the successful removal of almost 7000 pigs.
Autopsies conducted with the assistance of Biosecurity Queensland found all specimens to be healthy with no notable signs of disease. Stomach contents in sows and piglets showed a diet comprised primarily of nardoo whilst that of boars was almost entirely freshwater mussels and crayfish. Blood samples taken from 20 animals are currently being tested for presence of exotic diseases.
Media enquiries: Roelie Hartwig Ph: (07) 4652 7812 Fax: (07) 4658 0122 or roelie.hartwig@dcq.org.au
