In a post to Facebook today, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has announced Aerial Marksmen would be deployed to Kangaroo Island to tackle the Feral Pig problem which has been growing since the devastating bushfires in December.
Feral Pigs are a pest whose numbers were estimated to be 5000 prior to the fires.
The Natural Resources Management Board is concerned that populations could swell and harm the recovering fauna and flora, as feral pigs tend to eat through plants and cause topsoil erosion.
“The bushfires have dealt a heavy blow to farmers and parks on the island but with the bushfire now contained we can begin to hope and talk about recovery,” Mr Heinrich from the Natural Resources Management Board said.
“Feral pigs will not only churn up the ground and affect soil retention, they can also damage recovering bush, carry pests and diseases, and foul water sources, making them a particular menace to the recovery.”
Aerial Reconnaissance will be undertaken throughout this week to determine populations and to plan for aerial marksmen to reduce population numbers.
If you would like to help in the recovery of Kangaroo Island you can donate to a fund established by the Department for Environment and Water in partnership with Nature Foundation SA here: https://www.naturefoundation.org.au/support-us/wildlife-recovery-fund
