Western Local Land Services has worked with landholders to cull more than 15,000 feral pigs in targeted wetland habitat over the past two years, allowing vegetation to regenerate and native wildlife to flourish.
The 120,000-hectare area, north-west of Bourke, is an historic pig breeding ground, favoured for its natural watercourses flowing from Queensland.
Through successive targeted control programs, Local Land Services has seen a steady reduction in the number of feral pigs culled year on year, from 4,217 in October 2023 to 2,015 in September 2024.
Western Local Land Services Regional Pest Animal Coordinator, Brooke Anderson, said this was thanks in part to the ideal timing of the funding, which meant they could keep on top of breeding cycles to have ongoing population reduction impacts.
As a result, landholders have reported a noticeable improvement in the natural environment, with less tree damage caused by pigs wallowing and more birdlife spotted in the area.
Greg Robertson and Christine Ferguson own one of the 11 properties that participated in the targeted control program.
Ms Ferguson said the increase in volume of vegetation across the landscape had surprised them.
“This year we observed knee-high medics and swathes of Warrego summer grass and rat’s tail couch in our rested paddocks like we have never seen,” Ms Ferguson said.
“Due to the abundance of vegetation across the property, we were able to leave a section of the Yantabulla swamp resting longer than normal to allow the vulnerable ground-nesting birds to raise their young without being impacted by cattle.
“For the first time, we have observed black swan chicks. These would normally be eaten by pigs while still eggs in the nest.
“The number of brolgas has increased, as has the quantity and diversity of other birdlife.
“The condition of our cattle has also improved due to the increase in feed available and improved water quality.”
There have also been positive flow-on effects for landholders further south of the wetland, where fewer feral pigs have migrated.
Local Land Services worked with landholders to boost on-ground efforts and coordinate the aerial shooting programs, the most recent of which were carried out in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
But this isn’t the end of the road, Ms Anderson added.
“There is always more work to be done, and Local Land Services will continue to work with landholders to further reduce the impacts of feral pigs for sustained environmental benefits.”
The NSW Government has invested $13.1 million in the Feral Pig and Pest Program 2024-25.
This builds on the $13 million previously delivered in 2023-24 under the Feral Pig Program.
Read the full Western NSW a feral pig control success story case study.
Media Contact
Georgia Osland, Media & Public Affairs Officer | 0418 258 159 or georgia.osland@lls.nsw.gov.au
