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...Captain Cook presented some pigs to the Maori and released others during his second and third voyages to New Zealand during 1773–1777. The first official introduction to Australia was with the first fleet in 1788. Feral pigs are habitat generalists and have colonised subalpine grasslands and forests, dry woodlands, tropical rainforests, semi-arid and monsoonal floodplains, swamps and other wetlands in many parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, and other states and territories. Their distribution in inland or seasonally dry areas of Australia is restricted to the vicinity of watercourses and their associated floodplains. In the more forest-covered parts of eastern Australia and south-west Western Australia, populations are still spreading, often through deliberate or accidental releases. In New Zealand, feral pigs are also distributed throughout the North and South Islands where there is suitable habitat.
Once established, colonies of feral pigs build up rapidly in many areas. Estimates of population size vary between 3.5 million and 23.5 million, inhabiting 38% of Australia, but their distribution and abundance can vary markedly from year to year according to environmental conditions.
European settlers introduced Pigs into Australia as a production animal for their communities. When these animals escaped from captivity they quickly established feral populations and have increased dramatically from then to now.
There are now estimated to be over 23 million feral pigs in Australia, which in reality means there are more feral pigs than humans that reside in our country. They are populated throughout Australia but predominately concentrated in Queensland, New South Wales and across the top of the Northern Territory. In other areas of the country, small isolated populations are present and are increasing is numbers due to the feral pigs tremendous ability to survive the harshest of conditions.
The agricultural impact of feral pigs ranges from destruction of grain crops, fruit and vegetable crops, sugarcane, pollution of water ways, and the predation on newborn lambs and other livestock.
Feral pigs pose a great threat of an exotic disease outbreak such as Foot and Mouth Disease. They already carry diseases such as Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, Leptospirosis and Qfever, which can have an adverse affect on the human population.
Environmental impacts are devastating too as pigs are susceptible to the heat they spend most of their time near by water. They pollute water courses and also wallow and plough up country that destroys a well balanced eco-system.
Feral pigs also prey on small mammals, reptiles and birds. Crocodiles, turtles, cassowaries and other animals have there nests raided and their offspring destroyed and eaten. The feral pig is putting ever increasing pressure on some rare and endangered species.
To add to their destructive habits – wild pigs populate a large area and move with seasonal changes. Studies have confirmed that pigs cover approx 20 km a day with lone boars covering up to 40 km.