A joint research project between UQ and the University of Canterbury found wild pigs to commit far greater damage to the climate than a million cars.
Researchers say when wild pigs plough through soil to find food, carbon is released to the atmosphere. Researchers said soil contains three times as much carbon, and has the potential to accelerate climate change.
Around the globe, wild pigs are uprooting areas of up to 120,000 kilometres. By utilising mapping techniques and predictive population models, researchers are able to detect and monitor the ever growing presence of invasive feral pigs.