Parks Australia rangers have declared war on feral animals in Kakadu National Park, killing 11,000 wild pigs in recent months, and pledging to destroy tens of thousands more before the year's end.
It comes as the full extent of a feral population boom in the park is laid bare.
Australian government estimates have revealed that over the past four years, feral pig numbers have doubled to around 70,000, wild buffalo numbers have jumped by 50 per cent to 7,500, and feral horses are now at around 15,000 within the world-heritage-listed park.
On top of this, Kakadu officials say the park is dealing with high numbers of feral cats, dogs, toads, ants and invasive weeds.
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said feral animal populations had gone "through the roof" since culls were halted in the park after a chopper crash in 2019, pending a safety review.
"The aerial culling was paused for a good reason — there had been a shocking helicopter accident and it was important for National Parks to take full account of the safe work environment that they should be providing for their staff," she told the ABC.
"But we know that the feral population in Kakadu National Park had blown out through the roof because of that suspension of aerial culling."
Ms Plibersek said the federal government believed there were now around "100,000 feral animals in the park".
Aerial culls restarted in mid-2022, which saw around 500 head of buffalo destroyed and 11,000 pigs, with efforts to be further ramped up throughout this year.
Kakadu park manager Shaun Barclay said he believed, "with a concerted campaign", the feral populations could be brought back to pre-2019 levels within a year.
UNESCO, the arm of the United Nations responsible for world-heritage listings, said the feral animals boom was of "significant concern" but did not go as far as to say Kakadu's heritage listing would be pulled.
"The threat of invasive species to the values of this world heritage property … is significant," a World Heritage Centre spokesman said.
"However, there is management in place which makes efforts to address this threat."
Tour guide and tourists voice concern
Long-term Kakadu tour guide and Murumburr man Dennis Miller said the problem with feral animals had been allowed to fester over many years, due to a lack of Commonwealth resources.
"It's the worst it's ever been, the feral animals — [it's] getting out of control," Mr Miller said.
"[The Commonwealth] has tried to save a lot of money, they've cut costs everywhere, not pouring more money into the park, and not enough Indigenous rangers as well.
"It's destroying the country, it's destroying [rock art and sacred] sites, it's not good at all."
Queensland traveller Nina Haynes, who was on a river cruise run by Mr Miller, said tourists should be made better aware of the widescale damage from feral animals.
"It's already changed the landscape so much already," Ms Haynes said.
"It would be a shame to not have the problem addressed, and then maybe in 50 years, this isn't here for us to enjoy, and to witness the beauty of the landscape."
Environment minister pledges change
Ms Plibersek blamed the former Coalition government for allowing the feral animals to run wild.
"Kakadu National Park was neglected by the previous government … certainly we know there was a problem with the blow-out in the feral animal numbers [and] we're getting on top of that," she said.
The minister pointed to a new government-funded compound for rangers to use in their fight against feral animals and weeds in Kakadu that has just recently been completed.
There has also been criticism from some in Kakadu that Parks Australia — a Commonwealth department based largely in Canberra — waited too long to resume culling after the crash.
Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Justin O'Brien said the fact that many decisions about Kakadu were made by bureaucrats in Canberra had "long been one of the cornerstone problems" in the park.
"We have [our own] ranger group, we are culling feral animals on Mirarr country," Mr O'Brien said.
"We could be doing a lot more of it, except for the administrative brake that's put on us by the arrangements as they are."
Mr O'Brien said he had been heartened by recent commitments made by Ms Plibersek and Parks Australia to bolster feral culling and local decision-making on the ground.
"Things are afoot," he said.
"My point is, though, it needs to be planned carefully, and in partnership."
Ms Plibersek conceded the relationship between Parks Australia and traditional owners had been "at times very bad" but that things were improving.
"This approach of genuine consultation and co-management has to be part of the future of Kakadu National Park," she said.
Feral animal culls in the park are expected to ramp up in the Northern Territory's dry season later this year.
