Kangaroo Island is expected to be free of feral pigs by the middle of next year.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions says the “ground-breaking” $5.5M Kangaroo Island Feral Pig Eradication Project has culled 859 pigs on the island and fewer than 100 are estimated to now remain.

The remaining pigs are expected to be eradicated by mid-2023.

The project was the first program in Australia to use military grade thermal technology in the control of pest animals.

At least $4 million will be spent on feral deer control programs over the next four years in areas including the Fleurieu and Adelaide Hills.

The State Government and landscape boards are providing $2 million, with the Australian Government committing $2 million.

In the pastoral rangelands of South Australia, landscape boards and the State Government are also working collaboratively to reduce the numbers of feral goats and feral pigs.

These programs operate across pastoral stations and National Parks and involve extensive mustering of feral goats by pastoralists, as well as aerial culling of both feral pigs and goats.

All South Australian landholders have a legal responsibility to control feral animals that are declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, that occur on their land.