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Pigs Devastate Ancient Bunya Pines & Sacred Sites
30 Nov
Summary
- Feral pigs spread deadly dieback disease to ancient bunya pines.
- The trees hold immense cultural significance for Indigenous Australians.
- Invasive pigs cause widespread ecological damage across Australia.
Ancient bunya pine forests in South-East Queensland are succumbing to a devastating dieback disease, with feral pigs identified as a primary catalyst for its worsening spread. These invasive animals, attracted by the bunya nuts, trample through infected soil, spreading the Phytophthora pathogen and weakening the trees.
The bunya pines hold deep cultural and historical significance for Indigenous Australians, having served as gathering places for ceremonies and disputes for millennia. Their destruction by disease and invasive species represents a loss of living heritage.
Nationwide, feral pigs cause extensive ecological disruption, impacting native wildlife, eroding waterways, and damaging sacred sites. While complete eradication is unlikely, targeted control efforts are being urged to protect vulnerable ecosystems and cultural heritage across Australia.
