Feral pigs targeted in the Daintree

Above and below: Wildlife friendly traps are working in the Daintree.

Government agencies have joined forces with the local community in the ongoing battle against feral pigs. Douglas Shire Council, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Australian Rainforest Foundation have pooled resources to jointly fund the Daintree Coast Community Feral Pig trapping Program. It is through the joint funding from government agencies that we can continue to provide long term, on-going commitment to feral pig control in the Daintree. The program operating in the Daintree Coast since September 2005, aims to reduce feral pig populations and their impacts to the local area. Trapping is, at this point in time, the best practise pig control method for this area.

The program employs Jeremy Roberts, from Cape Pest Control as the full time contract feral pig trapper operating between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation. Over 1470 feral pigs have been captured since the programme commenced, including substantial numbers from proactive landholders.

Feral Pigs are an issue for the community as a whole. Although no one control method will control the problem, we now have a collaborative approach between government agencies, researchers, landholders, and farmers, all working towards effective feral pig management in our local area.

Landholders experiencing feral pig problems can assist the program by contacting Douglas Shire Council’s Pest Management Officer on telephone 4098 2619.