Safety and feral animals
Feral pigs
Feral pigs occur throughout Queensland, including on large islands such as Moreton Island. They can chase and attack people. If you see a feral pig, stay well away from it.
Pigs can also carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans, including Murray Valley encephalitis and Ross River fever.
Pigs will eat almost anything, and are attracted by the smell of people's food, rubbish, bait and fish offal. Around campsites, pigs learn to scavenge for food. To discourage pigs from campsites, please make sure that you:
- Never feed pigs as it encourages them to hang around campsites.
- Keep food in strong lockable containers. Pigs will eat anything, including bread and biscuits.
- Keep bait in sealed containers and bury fish offal below the high tide mark to a depth of 50cm.
- Pack away rubbish in secure containers. Pigs will find and scatter rubbish left around camps.
- Keep your campsite tidy. This makes it uninviting for pigs.
Please tell rangers if you see feral pigs near campsites.
Feral cattle, horses and buffaloes
Feral cattle and horses may be seen in many remote areas. Water buffaloes occur across far northern Australia, including on Cape York and far northern Queensland. Feral cattle, buffaloes and horses may trample campsites, injuring people and damaging equipment. Buffaloes have attacked and killed people in the Northern Territory. If you see feral cattle or buffaloes, stay well away. Please report any sightings of feral cattle or buffaloes near campsites to park rangers.
Last updated: 09 June 2006