Australia's feral pig population is estimated to be about 24 million but the Otway Ranges, in Victoria's south-west, has not previously been their stomping ground.

Key points: There have been isolated reports of feral pigs in the Otways over the past decade, but sightings have increased recently

There have been isolated reports of feral pigs in the Otways over the past decade, but sightings have increased recently Parks Victoria and the Conservation Ecology Centre have set up traps, bait and cameras

Parks Victoria and the Conservation Ecology Centre have set up traps, bait and cameras Unlike feral cats, foxes and deer, there is still hope that this pest can be kept out of the Otways

In recent years, sightings of these unwelcome pests have been on the rise, and conservationists are now in a race against time to stop pig numbers from exploding.

Conservation Ecology Centre project officer Emma Birnbaum said the Otways was an important "stronghold" for many threatened native species.

"We've still got populations of species in the Otways that we need to conserve and protect and it would be a real shame to add another feral pest to that list that can cause damage," she said.

But the dense bushland, which includes cool temperate rainforest, is an attractive prospect for feral animals.

Emma Birnbaum puts out bait to attract feral pigs to a trap. ( ABC News: Nicole Mills )

"The Otways itself, it's like pig paradise," she said.

"For pigs to thrive, they really need shade, food and water, which is just everything the Otways offers.

"It's a landscape that they can freely move through, there's plenty of resources for them, they can breed all year round."

Parks Victoria ranger Gary Summers said there had been isolated reports of pigs in the Otways over the past decade but in recent years there had been a notable rise.

"We're getting more and more reports," he said.

"So if we can keep those numbers low, then that's going to be better in the long term for the management of the park."

Parks Victoria ranger Gary Summers checks a camera set up to capture feral pigs. ( ABC News: Nicole Mills )

Conservationists are struggling to win the battle against feral cats, foxes and deer, which are prolific in the region.

But there is optimism that with a coordinated approach, there is still a chance feral pigs can be eradicated.

For the past two winters, Parks Victoria and the Conservation Ecology Centre have been setting up cameras and large traps to gather information about where the pigs are and removing them from the area.

While the numbers are still relatively low, the damage has already been significant.

"If you visualise a ploughed paddock, it's about as close as you can come, and that's going right through our parks," Mr Summers said.

"In our gulley areas they've been rooting around and just ripping up all the understory. So quite a lot of damage."

Citizen scientists can log feral animal sightings on the FeralScan app. ( ABC News: Nicole Mills )

Experts are now encouraging local landowners and visitors to report any sightings on the FeralScan app to get a better idea of where the pigs are.

Ms Birnbaum said this critical information would help the team work out the best way to tackle the problem.

"We can't be everywhere. So really, it's people that are living and working and visiting the area that we rely on to sort of let us know what's going on in those areas that we're not," she said.