Project Squealer
Introduction
In 2009, data indicated that feral pigs were causing more than $1 million in sugarcane losses annually across the Herbert region. In response, the Hinchinbrook Community Feral Pig Management Program was established that same year to reduce the economic impact of feral pig damage in local sugarcane crops, and to reduce their impact to the broader environment.
From March 2022 to April 2025, Herbert Cane Productivity Services (HCPSL) received funding through the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative (Round 6) to trial and assess innovative approaches to feral pig management and to quantify their impacts. The long-term goal is to equip the HCFPMP (Hinchinbrook Community Feral Pig Management Program) with more effective methods for evaluating feral pig numbers and identifying their locations, while developing cost-effective management solutions that maximise return on investment for participating partners.
Project Squealer reviewed several emerging technologies, including aerial surveilence using drone mounted with thermal imaging cameras, GPS tracking collars, and the potential of using drones to deploy baits (pre-feed and poisoned) into areas that are difficult to access during the north Queensland wet season. The project, in partnership with James Cook University, also explored the feasibility of applying AI to automate trap gate closures once pigs have entered the trap.
Little is known locally about feral pig behaviour during the annual wet season, when traditional monitoring and control methods are hampered by flooding, soft/boggy terrain, and limited accessibility. This project aims to improve management outcomes by generating better data on population dynamics and movement patterns during the year.
Project Squealer – Project Report
