Poland to cut wild boar population to prevent ASF
Polish regions will implement a strategy to decrease the number of wild boars in order to avoid new outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) this season, reported the local media.
In particular, Podlaskie Voivodeship reported that it will require the additional PLN 4,8 million (US$ 1,2 million) for the implementation of measures to fight ASF among the population of wild boars, reported an officer of polish ecological fund Green Front, Alexei Kovtun.
In late February the administration of Podlaskie Voivodeship unanimously decided to hunt wild boars. It planned to shoot 500 boars until June 30. For this purpose, the administration allocated the budget of PLN 200,000 (US$ 51, 900). The same program has been recently adopted by the number of other regional units of Poland.
“However, Podlaskie Voivodeship’s budget cannot cover all the costs associated with a decrease in population of these animals. As a result, local authorities will not be able to fight the spread of disease among wild boars without concrete action of the central government,” added Kovtun.
Poland’s association of pig breeders previously estimated that the spread of ASF in wild fauna remains the main risk factor to pig farms. Last year several outbreaks of the disease was already reported in the regions bordering with Belarus. Therefore, authorities are planning to first decrease the number of wild boars in these areas.
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