For many Australians pig hunting has become a recreational hobby, something that fills the time, but have you ever wondered why we hunt feral pigs?
With their sharp tusks and enormous appetites, feral pigs are more than just a nuisance – they are an ecological disaster unfolding across Australia.
When European Settlers introduced pigs as livestock in Australia they quickly became feral due to poor management, their ability to thrive in Australia’s diverse landscapes, and their lack of natural predators.
Feral pigs can increase by 86% in just one year with no control and they are currently distributed across 45% of Australia.
Every year across the world feral pigs release 4.9 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions. That is equivalent to how many carbon emissions 1.1 million cars produce every year.
Feral pigs are consumptive and destructive meaning that their destructive habits are in consequence with their habit of foraging. When foraging for food feral pigs turn over vast areas of soil which releases carbon stored within it and causes soil erosion. Soil erosion also means a decrease in soil fertility, negatively impacting crops.
Feral pigs often feed on crops such as cereals, grain legumes, sugar cane, and orchards, as well as livestock, such as lambs and goats. On top of their environmental damages their cost to agricultural production is often extensive.
Feral pigs can introduce and maintain diseases which risk affecting livestock, plants, and humans.
They are hosts for pathogens such as anthrax, brucellosis, and leptospirosis and if diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, rabies, and rinderpest were introduced in Australia feral pigs could spread it. The presence of these diseases could spell disaster for Australia’s environment and economy.
Under Biosecurity Act 2014 feral pigs are classified as an invasive species. What this means is that hunting them is not only legal but highly encouraged as part of land management efforts and conservation.
So, when you hunt feral pigs, you’re not just taking part in a beloved pastime you are helping protect Australia’s environment and agriculture.
Written by Celia Freeman
Published March 2025