A wild dog bounty scheme aimed at assisting drought-affected pastoralists is having the desired impact reaching the milestone of 200 wild dogs killed.
The $100,000 Wild Dog Bounty Scheme offers landowners and managers $120 per wild dog killed on their land and is part of the Marshall Liberal Government's $21 million Drought Support Package.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said the bounty scheme provides additional income to drought-affected pastoralists and communities.
"Many people in these drought-affected regions are doing it tough and the bounty is designed to put money back in the pockets of pastoralists while helping to stop the scourge of wild dogs on the livestock industry inside the Dog Fence," Minister Basham said.
"Wild dogs have a significant impact on our pastoral regions, costing livestock producers almost $90 million a year. To have more than 200 claims made to the wild dog bounty scheme shows just how successful this initiative has been in helping drought-affected farmers across South Australia.
"Pastoralists at the South Australian Wild Dog Advisory Group meeting this week told me the Government's efforts to eradicate wild dogs have seen pastoralists going back to sheep in country where predation had previously made it unprofitable.
"Protecting our state's $4.3 billion livestock industry from wild dogs requires an integrated approach which is why we have also expanded our baiting and trapper program along with the once-in-a-lifetime $25 million rebuild of the South Australian Dog Fence.
"Since the Government delivered on our election commitment to employ more wild dog trappers, 618 dogs have been killed and 89 properties supported. Aerial baiting programs have expanded with an operation last month and another in December.
"The Marshall Liberal Government remains determined to eradicate wild dogs inside South Australia's Dog Fence and we will work with the Federal Government and the livestock sector to ensure farmers continue to be supported in a practical and efficient way."
The wild dog bounty scheme will run until 30 June 2021, or until the $100,000 is exhausted. The bounty is only paid to landholders after they have submitted photographic evidence of each dog killed humanely on their land for verification.
The $21 million Drought Support Program is helping pastoralists, farmers and families who need it most, providing immediate support through a council rate rebate and pastoral lease rent relief, expanding the Rural Financial Counselling Service and increasing the Family and Business mentor program, while also supporting long-term resilience through an expansion of the On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme.
Further criteria and full details on how to submit claims are available at www.pir.sa.gov.au/wilddogbounty
