Predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by Feral Pigs, Sus scrofa Linnaeus 1758 was listed as a KEY THREATENING PROCESS on Schedule 3 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 [27 August 2004].
Feral pigs, Sus scrofa, are found across continental Australia with the highest densities in NSW, Qld and through northern Australia to the Kimberley region. In 2002, feral pigs were estimated to inhabit 61% of the area of NSW and the ACT (West and Saunders 2003).
Feral pigs present a significant threat to native species and ecological communities as a result of their behaviour and feeding habits. Pig wallowing and rooting causes direct disturbance to habitats (Hone 2002). Further, disturbance of habitats by feral pigs may also facilitate the invasion and spread of weeds and thus affect the composition of plant communities (DEH 2003b). Feral pigs are active predators of native birds, reptiles, (including their eggs), frogs and soil invertebrates such as earthworms as well as the underground storage organs of plants and the fruiting bodies of fungi. Predation by the feral pig was implicated as a major cause of decline in several bird species and direct predation by feral pigs may have contributed to declines in populations of some frog species (Richards et al. 1993).
The following threatened species, populations and ecological communities known or likely to be threatened by feral pigs include: Loggerhead Turtle, Eastern Bristlebird, Brolga, Southern Brown Bandicoot (eastern subsp.), Fleay's Barred Frog, Giant Barred Frog, Long-footed Potoroo, Southern Corroboree Frog, Black-breasted Button-quail, Calotis pubescens, Raleigh Sedge, Chiloglottis anaticeps, Small Scurf-pea, White-flowered Wax Plant, Salt Pipewort, Euphrasia orthocheila subsp. peraspera, Euphrasia scabra, Gentiana bredboensis, Winged Peppercress (a herb), Lesser Swamp-orchid, Greater Swamp-orchid, Philotheca myoporides subsp. obovatifolia, Pterostylis saxicola, Trachymene saniculifolia, Rufous Bettong, Long-nosed Potoroo, Northern Corroboree Frog, Boronia deanei, Mauve Burr-daisy, Chiloglottis platyptera, Diurus venosa, Euphrasia ciliolate, Goodenia macbaronii, Pterostylis cucullate, Pterostylis elegans, Restio longipes, Monaro Golden Daisy, Tasmannia purpurascens, Tetratheca juncea, Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae, population in the NSW North Coast Bioregion and Port Stephens local government area, Artesian Springs Ecological Community, Ben Halls Gap National Park National Park Sphagnum Moss Cool Temperate Rainforest Community, Semi-evergreen Vine Thicket in the Brigalow Belt South and Nandewar Bioregions, and White Box Yellow Box Blakely's Red Gum Woodland
Predation, Habitat Degradation, Competition and Disease Transmission by Feral Pigs is listed as a key threatening process under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and a national threat abatement plan has been prepared by the Department of Environment and Heritage.
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