11.2.4.Feral pigs and wild dogs

Feral pigs cause significant economic losses to agriculture by damaging crops, pastures, water holes, fencing and by killing lambs and sheep.

A feral pig can be defined by establishing any or all of the following facts:
• the pig was born in the wild
• the pig has lived in the wild
• the pig demonstrates wild and erratic behaviour
• the pig is not domesticated
• the pig has some or all of the following morphological features - long coarse hair, elongated snout, sloping hindquarters.

Strict laws are in place to stop people from transporting and releasing live feral pigs. These fines include:
• up to $22,000 for transporting live feral pigs
• up to $5,500 for liberating feral pigs (or any pest animal)
• up to $2,200 for having a live feral pig (or any live pest animal) in your possession.
Authorised officers continually monitor this illegal practice.

Wild dogs are less likely to damage infrastructure, but can cause significant livestock losses, especially if they are part of a pack. A wild dog is any dog that can be classed as the one of the following:
• dingo
• half-breed dingo
• domestic dog that has gone wild.