Giant pigs near city
Sunday Times, Page: 22. Sunday, 7 June, 2009
Large feral pigs are roaming areas on the outskirts of Perth, says the local Sporting Shooters’ Association.
The beasts are almost as big as the 220kg behemoth killed on a Pilbara cattle station.
The giant kill made news around the world after The Sunday Times reported it last week.
Sporting Shooters’ Association Australia WA president Ron Bryant said he had seen giant boar just 50km from the city.
“Around Jarrahdale and the perimeters of Perth, large feral pigs are prevalent,” he said.
“Last year a large percentage of the feral pigs we saw were as big as that (200kg) or over 150kg at least.” Pastoralists and Graziers Association spokesman Geoff Gare said it was a constant battle to keep large wild pigs under control.
“I’ve seen wild pigs as big as that (over 2 00kg) in the Kimberley. They get into those river areas and stay there for years and grow to enormous sizes,” Mr Gare said.
“They get them over by Collie and in the big reserves in the Darling Range.” Feral, introduced species such as foxes, rabbits, pigs and cats trash native ecosystems.
Bunters say they can control the pests, but are being hunted themselves.
“Some of the newspapers like to sensationalise it and make us look like bloodthirsty individuals, whereas we are getting out there and getting rid of the pigs and the foxes and we are allowing some of the local wildlife to come back,” Mr Bryant said.
“We run conservation programs where we do a lot of good. We are starting to see natural habitat come back where we are getting rid of all the introduced stuff.” The Department of Environment and Conservation said two female pigs each weighing more than 180kg were trapped at Mogumber Nature Reserve, north of Gingin, in 2007.
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