Socio-economic and biological impact of the feral pig in New South Wales: An overview and alternative management plan.

Abstract

Feral pigs are widely distributed in Australia and have increased their range despite extensive control efforts. They pose a management dilemma because they are simultaneously an agricultural pest, endemic and exotic disease hazard, environmental liability, export commodity and recreational resource. These attributes and values vary with place, time and observer perceptions. In this paper, I briefly review the socio- economic and biological impact of the feral pig in New South Wales. An alternative multiple use management plan is presented, which minimizes costs and conflict by integrating the requirements for cost-effective control of agricultural damage and exotic disease with the commercial and recreational values of the feral pig. The proposal is based on: local ('buffer zone') control near susceptible enterprises; sustainable yield harvesting; regulated recreational hunting; and appropriate exotic disease contingency plans.