Kangaroo Island is set to benefit from $191,250 in additional funding as it continues its bushfire recovery, with biosecurity protections for the island’s unique ecosystem set to be strengthened.

Since the 2019-2020 bushfires, the state and federal governments have provided close to $4.6million in funding for the Kangaroo Island Feral Pig Eradication project.

The state government has now committed additional funding to ensure this program can continue for the benefit of the local community. 

The Kangaroo Island Feral Pig Eradication program has culled 872 feral pigs, with fewer than 30 feral pigs estimated to remain on the island. 

The final few pigs are expected to be culled by June this year.

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven says the feral pig eradication has been a huge success story which provided great outcomes for residents, the environment and for local primary production.

“Removing them will save an estimated $1 million a year and reduce impacts on Kangaroo Island’s biodiversity.”

Mawson Leon Bignell says after cleaning up deer and goats on Kangaroo Island it is terrific to have the final remaining pigs in our sights.

“The pigs cause environmental and economic damage to the island and this extra money will hopefully finish off the job which has been a perennial problem ever since the first pigs were released on the island around 200 years ago.”

The additional funding will allow for swift action on any new incursions of pigs, and then demonstrate proof of freedom of the pest through monitoring cameras and eDNA sample collection around the island.

This project is delivered in partnership with the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, farmers, landholders, National Parks and Wildlife, KI Land for Wildlife, and other local stakeholders.

The original funding for disaster relief was made available through National Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. 

Additional funding has been provided through the Local Economic Recovery Program, jointly funded by state and federal governments.