Media release
12 August 2013
Collaborative effort to prevent wild pig releases
TBfree New Zealand has joined forces with Northland Regional Council to warn people about the disease risk of illegally
introducing wild pigs and deer into the region.
Pigs can carry bovine tuberculosis (TB) and spread the disease to other wild animals, particularly if people do not
correctly dispose of pig heads and offal. Possums and ferrets scavenging on this material may become infected and spread
TB to domestic cattle and deer, threatening Northland farmers’ livelihoods.
Northland Regional Council Biosecurity Senior Programme Manager Don McKenzie said the illegal release of wild pigs and
deer could harm both the regional economy and environment.
“It is an offence under council’s Regional Pest Management Rules to release wild pigs and deer. The majority of hunters
are responsible and follow the rules but a minority are wrecking their own sport as a result of their illegal actions.
Where we know of illegal pig liberations, or if we receive complaints from landowners, we will follow up with the aim of
reducing wild animal populations in the area and prosecuting offenders,” said Mr McKenzie.
Open offal pits can be accessed by wild pigs and also present a TB risk to other wild animals. Farmers using open offal
pits to dispose of stock should take precautions to ensure wild animals cannot access them. Keeping wild pig populations
low in neighbouring areas and fencing off properties and offal pits are two ways of reducing the risk of wild pigs
feeding in this way.
Releasing wild pigs has the potential to undo all the hard work put in by TBfree New Zealand and the Northland Regional
Council to ensure the region’s wild animals remain free of the disease. The deliberate release of pigs is also an
offence under the Wild Animal Control Act 1977 and the Northland Regional Council Pest Management Strategy.
TBfree New Zealand National Disease Manager Dr Kevin Crews said people need to consider the consequences of transporting
and releasing wild pigs into areas where the wild animal population is known to be free of TB.
“The beef, dairy and deer sectors are still vulnerable to bovine TB. We are all working hard to eradicate this disease
from New Zealand and the illegal release of pigs into the wild is an unacceptable risk to this objective,” said Dr
Crews.
Wild pig heads and offal should be buried deep enough that the remains cannot be scavenged. People should also be aware
of the TB risk when handling pig carcasses. To reduce the chance of becoming infected themselves, hunters should
disinfect their knives and gear after use, cover cuts and open wounds on their hands and arms and wash thoroughly after
cutting up animals.
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