Stop feral pigs wrecking Tasmania forever

Feral pigs are an environmental and economic disaster on mainland Australia and without urgent action they could explode across Tasmania.

Potentially 150 farmed-turned-feral pigs are wreaking havoc right now in the bushlands around Gunns Plain and Waratah in northwest Tasmania. There are unconfirmed reports of some roaming pigs near Hobart too.

With a breeding rate of 86% per year, if the Tasmanian government doesn’t act fast 150 pigs could explode to 30,000 in just a decade. Once established in these numbers, getting rid of them is almost impossible. Tasmania will never be the same.

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Feral pigs are an environmental and economic disaster on mainland Australia and without urgent action they could explode across Tasmania.

Potentially 150 farmed-turned-feral pigs are wreaking havoc right now in the bushlands around Gunns Plain and Waratah in northwest Tasmania. There are unconfirmed reports of some roaming pigs near Hobart too.

With a breeding rate of 86% per year, if the Tasmanian government doesn’t act fast 150 pigs could explode to 30,000 in just a decade. Once established in these numbers, getting rid of them is almost impossible. Tasmania will never be the same.

Send a message to the Tasmanian Premier, Minister for Primary Industries and the Minister for Parks and Environment today to say act now before it is too late!

The window of opportunity to stop feral pigs taking over Tasmania is closing fast.

Tasmania is fortunate to currently have no major feral pig populations outside of Flinders Island. This could change rapidly if these uncontained pigs remain uncontrolled.

Feral pigs are a nightmare for people, pets, farms and nature. They threaten 148 species nationwide and cost farmers on the mainland over $100 million every year.

They trample and uproot native plants, pollute and erode rivers, trash crops, kill and eat native animals and spread weeds and diseases.

It is not too late to prevent feral pigs from spreading across Tasmania. But it could be soon.

Feral pigs have a high breeding rate. In good conditions, their population can increase 86% a year. This means 150 pigs could become over 2000 in five years and over 30,000 in another five years.

Once feral pigs are established, eradication is rarely possible and control will be an ongoing cost to Tasmanian taxpayers forever.

At the faintest hint of foxes, the Tasmanian government spent $50 million on an important fox eradication program. Feral pigs should warrant a similar level of concern.

Feral pigs are one of the most destructive invasive species on mainland Australia. We cannot let them wreck Tasmania too.

Together we must call on the Premier, Primary Industry and Environment Ministers to prioritise dealing with these roaming populations of pigs before it’s too late.

We need urgent eradication of these isolated populations and legislative improvements to prevent farmed pigs from going feral in future.

Writing an email to the Premier, Primary Industry and Environment Ministers is a powerful action you can take to prevent the damaging impacts of feral pigs.

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Stop feral pigs wrecking Tasmania forever

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Write an email to the Premier, Primary Industry and Environment Ministers and help stop feral pigs from taking over Tasmania.

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Dear Premier Rockliff, Minister Howlett and Minister Duigan,

I am writing to ask you to take urgent action to eradicate the populations of roaming pigs in Tasmania before it is too late.

I am very worried about news reports of potentially 150 feral pigs near Gunns Plain and Waratah which the government have left to multiply. There are reports of some roaming feral pigs near Hobart too. Without action you are risking feral pigs trashing and trampling Tasmania forever.

Feral pigs breed very fast, with populations growing by up to 86% a year under good conditions. This high breeding rate means 150 pigs could become over 2000 in five years and over 30,000 in another five years.

Once established, eradication of feral pigs will not be possible and control will be an ongoing cost to Tasmanian taxpayers forever.

Feral pigs are a massive environmental and agricultural pest. They cost Australian farmers on the mainland more than $100 million every year. Feral pigs pollute and erode rivers, destroy native plants, spread weeds and diseases, and kill native animals. On the mainland, feral pigs threaten at least 148 endangered species.

I am therefore asking that you:

Eradicate these known roaming pig populations as an urgent priority.
Empower local councils to act to control roaming pig populations.
Develop and enforce minimum fencing standards to stop pigs escaping.
Declare roaming pigs a ‘pest species’ to enable effective control.

At the faintest hint of foxes, the Tasmanian government spent $50 million on an important fox eradication program. Feral pigs require a similar level of action.

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