Pigs were first imported from Europe to Australia as livestock by the First Fleet in 1788. Today, they are among Queensland's most widespread and damaging pest species.
In 2021, it was estimated that Queensland had up to 2.3 million feral pigs.
Their impact on native ecosystems is profound. They spread invasive plants, degrade soil and water, prey on native species, damage crops and livestock, and carry diseases. With wild populations now impacting some of our most precious rainforest environments, they have become one of the most destructive, invasive species in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Their high population numbers are widespread throughout the Douglas Shire, and in particular, the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.
Through sheer adaptability, feral pigs have thrived to the clear detriment of many native inhabitants. Most significantly, the endangered southern cassowary, as they have been seen eating cassowary eggs and chicks.
Feral pig group trail. Image: DETSI - Queensland Government
Why are feral pigs a problem?
Feral pigs have powerful snouts that they use to dig and root through soil in search of food. This behaviour, known as foraging, may seem harmless. But in a delicate rainforest ecosystem, it can have devastating consequences.
Feral pigs threaten the Daintree by:
- Destruction of native vegetation
Feral pigs uproot native plants, trample understorey seedlings, and compact the soil, making it harder for species to regenerate. In areas where we’re actively restoring land by planting native trees, this damage can undo months, or years, of growth in a matter of days.
- Hunting native wildlife
These invasive animals are known to eat cassowary eggs, reptiles, frogs, and small mammals, placing already vulnerable and endangered species like the musky rat-kangaroo and the southern cassowary at even greater risk.
- Damage to endangered plant species
Pigs feed on tubers and soft-fruited plants, many of which are vital to the survival of threatened and endangered species. When feral pigs dig for food, they often destroy the root systems of these plants, some of which exist only in tiny pockets of the Daintree.
- Spread of weeds and disease
By moving through different habitats and disturbing the soil, pigs create ideal conditions for invasive weed species to take hold. They can also carry and spread plant pathogens and diseases like Phytophthora cinnamomi, a soil-borne fungus that attacks the roots of many rainforest trees.
Feral pig caught on camera traps at Lot 463 Black Bean Road
Protecting Daintree rainforest restoration projects
In our rainforest restoration work through Rainforest Rangers, particularly in degraded or previously cleared areas, feral pigs are one of the most significant challenges to long-term success. On both Lot 463 Black Bean Road, and successfully purchased Lot 157 Cape Tribulation Road, wild pig presence was apparent through areas of fresh digging. Their activity threatens not only new plantings but the natural regeneration of the rainforest. By controlling pigs on the property, its value as habitat for rare and threatened rainforest fauna would improve drastically.
As part of our conservation strategy, we work with local Traditional Owners, ecologists, and land managers to monitor feral pig activity and implement targeted control programs. These include humane trapping, exclusion fencing in critical areas, and collaborations with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Damage caused by feral pigs. Image: Queensland National Parks
How do I know if feral pigs are present on my property?
- Visible sightings
- Crop and pasture damage
- Tracks, scats and hoof prints
- Wallows (indentations in waterbodies)
- Mud rubs and tusk marks on vegetation and infrastructure
- Hair and mud
- Livestock predation
What you can do
Restoring and protecting the Daintree Lowland Rainforest isn’t just about planting and establishing trees. It’s about ensuring the conditions for those trees, and the wildlife that depend on them. That means addressing threats like feral pigs head-on.
By supporting our rainforest buyback and restoration projects, you’re helping us create secure wildlife corridors and manage invasive threats effectively. Together, we can give this ancient rainforest and its endangered species the protection they deserve.
Donate today to support rainforest projects in the Daintree and protect vital habitat from invasive species.
Suspended feral pig trap, ready for use. Image: Queensland National Parks
What's being done?
Douglas Shire Council plays a key role in managing this threat through a program aimed at minimising the environmental, social, and economic damage caused by feral pigs.
A range of control options from shooting, to trapping and baiting are used to control feral pigs when required. Landholders wishing to participate in the program should contact Douglas Shire Council on 07 4099 9444.
The protection of this globally significant rainforest also depends on people like you. Your support enables us to restore degraded areas, strengthen wildlife corridors, and safeguard threatened species from the growing pressures of invasive pests.
Together, we can protect the archaic Daintree Rainforest for future generations.
Support our work, donate today to help protect the Daintree and manage serious threats like feral pigs.
Do you have more information about feral pigs in the Daintree Lowlands?
Please, share your knowledge of feral pigs in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest so that we can improve our understanding of the issue. Email us at [email protected].