In March, Italian authorities set up a task force to reduce the numberof wild boars. Although they have been roaming freely for the past decade, the boars could spread African swine fever.
African swine fever is harmless to humans and pets. However, the virus is deadly to pigs. The virus kills 98% of those infected, and there is no vaccine. Most importantly, commercialized pigs provide jobs to 100,000 people. Other countries have been affected by the virus. China and Japan imposed an import ban on Italian pork, which cost Italy $20 million in damages.
The African swine fever’s threat to the Italian pork industry is so substantial that farmers have started to protest against the government to do more. If their hogs get infected by the virus, they would have to be killed too, removing their source of income. According to BBC News, “‘Farmers demonstrating in Rome, wearing boar masks, crouched in imitation of boars, chanting: “The boar needs be stopped!’”
Earlier this year, officials discovered the virus in some carcasses in northern Italy, and more cases followed inother cities. Removing the virus will be difficult, as authorities believe several million or 50% of wild boars will need to be killed.
Angelo Ferrari is an expert investigating the wild boar crisis. He said, “I don’t see the eradication of the disease as a possibility unless you bring about a strong reduction of the [boar] population,” and added, “The thing is, there’s just too many of them.”
There haven’t always been that many boars. The population of boars in Europe has spiked in recent years. There have been little to no predators, and the animals have a high reproduction rate. Even wolves cannot handle the numberof wild boars. In addition, they have been lingering around parks and forested urban areas, such as Rome, Berlin, and Barcelona.
Ferrari hopes to create a sealed and netted “red zone” near the city center and allow the virus to infect all the boars present. Trashcans will be designed to keep boars out. There will also be traps around Rome’s Great Ring Junction. According to BBC News,“ Because the virus can survive on surfaces, even in soil, signs have been appearing around Rome’s designated zone, west of the river Tiber, asking park visitors to sanitize their shoes once they leave.” The government has also asked “selective hunters” to help. In Piedman, hunters have killed 3,500 boars so far.
Not everyone is in favor of killing the wild boars. Animal rights activists argue that killing these wild boars should be a last resort. However, the damage to the African swine could cost the country much more if no action is taken.
African swine fever is harmless to humans and pets. However, the virus is deadly to pigs. The virus kills 98% of those infected, and there is no vaccine. Most importantly, commercialized pigs provide jobs to 100,000 people. Other countries have been affected by the virus. China and Japan imposed an import ban on Italian pork, which cost Italy $20 million in damages.
The African swine fever’s threat to the Italian pork industry is so substantial that farmers have started to protest against the government to do more. If their hogs get infected by the virus, they would have to be killed too, removing their source of income. According to BBC News, “‘Farmers demonstrating in Rome, wearing boar masks, crouched in imitation of boars, chanting: “The boar needs be stopped!’”
Earlier this year, officials discovered the virus in some carcasses in northern Italy, and more cases followed inother cities. Removing the virus will be difficult, as authorities believe several million or 50% of wild boars will need to be killed.
Angelo Ferrari is an expert investigating the wild boar crisis. He said, “I don’t see the eradication of the disease as a possibility unless you bring about a strong reduction of the [boar] population,” and added, “The thing is, there’s just too many of them.”
There haven’t always been that many boars. The population of boars in Europe has spiked in recent years. There have been little to no predators, and the animals have a high reproduction rate. Even wolves cannot handle the numberof wild boars. In addition, they have been lingering around parks and forested urban areas, such as Rome, Berlin, and Barcelona.
Ferrari hopes to create a sealed and netted “red zone” near the city center and allow the virus to infect all the boars present. Trashcans will be designed to keep boars out. There will also be traps around Rome’s Great Ring Junction. According to BBC News,“ Because the virus can survive on surfaces, even in soil, signs have been appearing around Rome’s designated zone, west of the river Tiber, asking park visitors to sanitize their shoes once they leave.” The government has also asked “selective hunters” to help. In Piedman, hunters have killed 3,500 boars so far.
Not everyone is in favor of killing the wild boars. Animal rights activists argue that killing these wild boars should be a last resort. However, the damage to the African swine could cost the country much more if no action is taken.
