Wild boars in Australia currently cause over 100 million dollars in damage each year to the pork industry and the economy. And that is just the tip of the iceberg; let alone the possibility that African swine fever might unexpectedly appear in Australia.
A study conducted last year by Australian Pork Limited (APL) states that wild boars are, after rabbits, the second largest source of animal-related economic damage as an invasive species in Australia.
The report is part of a national Australian government plan worth $1.4 million to stop African swine fever (ASF). It is estimated that there are 24 million feral pigs spread over nearly half the country, covering around 3.43 million square kilometers.
Wild boars cause productivity losses through predation on livestock, competition for feed, contamination of water sources, damage to agricultural infrastructure, reduced crop yields, spread of weeds, and act as a driver of animal diseases.
Local populations are primarily found near swamps and other waterways. According to an analysis by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), pig populations can grow by more than 85 percent per year.
The publication of the APL report coincides with the first meeting of a steering committee chaired by experienced Australian agribusiness executive John Maher. This steering committee of stakeholders is developing a preliminary action plan to be presented to the Department of Agriculture in 2021.