In the past few months, authorities in Rome have begun a cull to try and contain the wild boars that have been roaming Rome in the past decade. The main concern is that the boars could spread the African swine fever which kills 98% of the pigs that are infected with it.
Earlier this year, wild boar carcasses which were infected with the African swine fever were found in northwestern Italy; later, more recent cases were reported in Rome.
Angelo Ferrari, an expert assigned by the government to deal with the situation, says, “I don’t see the eradication of the disease as a possibility, unless you bring about a strong reduction of the [boar] population. The thing is, there’s just too many of them.”
In recent decades, the wild boar population has spiked as a response to a few factors which include high reproduction rates and an absence of large predators. Metropolises such as Rome, Berlin, and Barcelona have seen an increase in wild boar appearances at forested areas and near parks.
In March, the government created a task force with an aim to reduce Italy’s boar population by 50 percent. According to Ferrari, Rome plans on letting the virus spread through a designated area near the center of the city. The area was sealed off by gates and special nets, and trash cans are also being modified to keep the boars out. In addition to these precautions, the government has installed over a dozen traps outside Rome’s Great Ring Junction and plans on adding more.
David Granieri, who heads the local branch of the Coldiretti farmers’ association, said, “Just think of the San Daniele prosciutto and of the prosciutto of Parma. It would get very serious, very quickly.” Hopefully, these precautions will keep the wild boars from spreading the disease to the pig farms in the north, preventing the Italian pork industry from collapsing.
Link to Article:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1658068976269x129744109329765550/African%20swine%20fever_%20boars%20that%20roam%20Rome%20must%20be%20killed%2C%20officials%20say%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
Earlier this year, wild boar carcasses which were infected with the African swine fever were found in northwestern Italy; later, more recent cases were reported in Rome.
Angelo Ferrari, an expert assigned by the government to deal with the situation, says, “I don’t see the eradication of the disease as a possibility, unless you bring about a strong reduction of the [boar] population. The thing is, there’s just too many of them.”
In recent decades, the wild boar population has spiked as a response to a few factors which include high reproduction rates and an absence of large predators. Metropolises such as Rome, Berlin, and Barcelona have seen an increase in wild boar appearances at forested areas and near parks.
In March, the government created a task force with an aim to reduce Italy’s boar population by 50 percent. According to Ferrari, Rome plans on letting the virus spread through a designated area near the center of the city. The area was sealed off by gates and special nets, and trash cans are also being modified to keep the boars out. In addition to these precautions, the government has installed over a dozen traps outside Rome’s Great Ring Junction and plans on adding more.
David Granieri, who heads the local branch of the Coldiretti farmers’ association, said, “Just think of the San Daniele prosciutto and of the prosciutto of Parma. It would get very serious, very quickly.” Hopefully, these precautions will keep the wild boars from spreading the disease to the pig farms in the north, preventing the Italian pork industry from collapsing.
Link to Article:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1658068976269x129744109329765550/African%20swine%20fever_%20boars%20that%20roam%20Rome%20must%20be%20killed%2C%20officials%20say%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
