Feral Pigs

A one-stop shop for information and resources

Background Info
Environmental benefits
Directory
Current projects

The big, pig problem

Feral pigs are a major pest and a significant threat to Australia’s agriculture industry. Damage caused by feral pigs to Australia’s agricultural industry exceeds $100 million per year. In Queensland, the impact of feral pigs on farms, native ecosystems and local communities is no less profound and managing them can be overwhelming for individual landholders. Under the Biosecurity Act 2014, they are listed as restricted matter - meaning they must not be moved, kept, fed, released, given away or sold.

For the banana industry, the stakes are even higher. Since Panama TR4 was detected in Tully in 2015, feral pigs have been recognised as a significant non-human vector of the disease. Their behaviour - wallowing, digging and feeding in production areas - can spread contaminated soil between properties, adding to the biosecurity risk and ongoing farm costs. 

If you have feral pig enquiries, please contact: growersupport@abgc.org.au

Feral Pig Projects

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) is actively leading and supporting a coordinated regional approach to reduce the impact of feral pigs across Far North Queensland. As part of this response, ABGC have established a  Feral  Pig Working Group with industry representatives to coordinate an on-going  feral pig management program.  The Working Group successfully delivered an aerial shooting program in November 2025. ABGC representatives are also part of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC) Executive Oversight Group that aim to support landholders and communities with practical tools and coordinated programs to help reduce this destructive pest across the region. 

  • ABGC have established a Feral Pig Working Group with industry representatives to coordinate an ongoing feral pig management program.  The Working Group is currently working to plan an additional aerial shooting program led by the industry to complement existing efforts of the CCRC Executive Oversight Group.

    Projects:

    ABGC Feral Pig Aerial Shooting Program

    • ‍Completed in November 2025

    • Occurred in Tully Valley to assist growers in containing TR4

    • 102 feral pigs were humanely removed from various banana farms in the region

    • Funded by ABGC

    • Received support from National Parks

    ABGC understands that one-off programs are ineffective and ABGC is continuing to collaborate with growers, landholders and experts to build effective, long-term feral pig management approaches. The aim remains to reduce damage on farms and equip growers with the tools to strengthen biosecurity across the region. 

  • The Cassowary Coast Regional Council facilitates an Executive Oversight Group focussed on feral pig management. ABGC representatives are part of this group.

    Projects:

    CCRC Feral Pig Aerial Shooting Program

    • Completed in November 2025

    • 168 feral pigs humanely destroyed

    • Funded by participating growers (primarily bananas and sugarcane), with support from National Parks and council.

Damage caused by feral pigs on a banana farm after wet weather.

Feral Pig Information Directory

Environmental benefits of control:

  • Increased sightings of cassowaries and their young

  • Reduction in predation of turtle eggs

  • Increased nesting of magpie geese

  • A decrease in predation of ground nesting birds, eggs and young

  • Fewer reports by cane farmers of cane damage

  • Less erosion of waterholes and riverbanks

  • A decrease in riparian vegetation damage

  • Improved water quality due to less sedimentary run-off

Get in touch.

If you would like to get in touch about feral pigs, please email us at growersupport@abgc.org.au and a member of the team will contact you as soon as possible. Alternatively, fill out the form and hit send.