Operational Plan for a Pilot Programme for the Management of Feral Pigs on Niue Island. With recommendations for enhanced management of domestic pigs

Abstract

Feral and wandering domestic pigs collectively cause significant environmental damage in Niue, chiefly to coconut crab populations and to seedling coconuts. They also cause significant economic damage to plantations and domestic gardens. Feral pig eradication on Niue Island would be difficult to achieve and impossible to maintain in the current scenario of domestic pig management. Pig management practices vary from adequate to laissez faire, with constant escape and release from sites. This is due to lack of quality pig sty construction and difficulty for most pig owners in maintaining regular pig watering and feeding. Domestic pigs interact with feral pigs and contribute both to the feral herd and in damage to crops and the environment.