Ferals Australis Pig Project/ Progress Report Sept 2016

Ferals Australis was contracted to conduct pig culling activities as part of the Balkanu Pig Abatement Project.

Aerial surveys were conducted to confirm numbers of feral animals (with the emphasis on pigs) prior to an aerial cull being conducted. The helicopter is fitted with booms which are calibrated to show the number of animals in a fixed distance pattern from the machine. The helicopter is flown at 200 feet above ground level on a predetermined flight grid pattern at approximately 50 knots per/hr. Animals spotted are recorded within the marked segments on the boom. There are two spotters on the left side of the machine, one of whom is there to verify the accuracy of results. There is one spotter on the right side of the machine. Results were recorded on iPads with an APP developed specifically for the task by CSIRO. The information was then downloaded and sent to CSIRO for collation and analysis Large group of pigs on one of the open plains South of Big Lake

Aerial culling was the chosen method for the initial reduction of pigs due to it being the most humane and efficient method in the circumstances. The area is large and remote with poor ground access and dense timber over a lot of it. This involves professional shooters in helicopters gridding the shootout zones efficiently at the appropriate times of the day, being the dawn and dusk periods. Pigs are usually concealed in dense vegetation during the heat of the day, making them impossible to spot from the helicopter. The pigs are dispatched with an appropriate calibre semi-automatic firearm (.308W) and then a flyover is conducted to ensure all animals are humanely dealt with. We used 1 shooter who also acted as spotter and data recorder, for part of this exercise in a Robinson R44.

Aerial culling for pigs only was commenced at Wik on 3 September 2016. Shooting was done in blocks to coincide with peak animal activity periods. Initially the shooting was focused on the coastal floodplains and adjacent swamps that contain large areas of Bulgaroo reed beds when they are full. These are located within the designated shootout zones.

There was large numbers of pigs being removed per hour of shooting, as the shoot progressed the numbers reduced markedly. The shooting was conducted over 7 x 2.5 hour sessions. Interestingly the pig numbers in the area to the immediate north of Big Lake was much lower on this trip. This was probably partly to do with large amount of ground water available this season and the fact it is the area that has had the most culling effort due to proximity to camp. Anecdotal evidence from a regular local hunter supported the impression that the pig numbers are much lower in the area surrounding Little Lake.

1073 pigs were culled during the aerial exercise in this area. Eight pigs were culled on the ground. The groups of animals were scattered due to the ground water and the fact that the area has been extensively burnt. The bulk of the pigs were located in the southern area of the project zone, there are extensive areas of dense cover here which provide a favourable habitat for them.

We also shot in the Love River to Archer River area on one afternoon. A lot of effort was concentrated on the beach areas, particularly between the Love River and the area just south of the Kirk River.(The main project zone)

The core area of the project that we have always worked within has much lower pig numbers than previously. The swamps and coastal plains overall are in much better condition.

On the 7th of September we relocated back to Kalan and commenced shooting the next morning. The country here was the driest that I have seen it since the project began. We focused on the few remaining water sources in the southern block area; again there were extensive areas of burnt country. The northern block was also almost dry except for the riparian zones. We went to the one remaining spring area and found a good number of pigs .We then went as far north as Geikie Creek and worked the watercourses thoroughly. Overall the Kalan shoot went well considering the dry conditions with 126 pigs removed in total.

Some billabongs were in much better condition than previously.

In total 1800 x .308 rounds and 300 x 12 gauge rounds were used to remove 1199 pigs during the September aerial shoot, 8 pigs were culled during ground based activities. The ammunition count was higher than normal due to the unavailability of our regular rounds at the time of purchase. The 168 gn rounds we used for the later part of the shoot were very hard and didn’t expand well on smaller pigs so consequently additional shots were fired to ensure humane despatch of the animals.