Wild Boar Hunt Authorized as Swine Fever Countermeasure

In a bid to control the spread of African swine fever in adjacent areas, the Italian Ministry of Health, through Giovanni Filippini, has announced a decision to allow wild boar hunting in Zone 1 of restriction (Zr1) starting from September 21. This decision affects the provinces of Turin, Biella, Novara, and Vercelli.

The European Union has delimited specific areas at risk (Zr1) where no cases of PSA (Porcine Spondylitis Africana) have been found but adjacent to areas where its presence has been registered. The 14 areas designated for the early hunting season were chosen by the Region to reduce the demographic density of the wild boar species.

Previously, wild boar hunting was not allowed in Zr1 due to African swine fever concerns. However, the authorization for a monitoring activity within "viral expansion control areas" (Cev) has been given, which was previously prohibited. This monitoring activity involves the depopulation of wild boars through selective shooting or capture.

The agricultural and hunting world has strongly desired this wider and more widespread hunting of wild boars as a new tool for containment. The objective is to shoot down 150% of the heads compared to the previous years to achieve an effective depopulation of the species.

The German federal government has set a similar goal to kill at least 150% more wild boars in controlled expansion areas than last year to achieve effective depopulation. This decision is aimed at helping in the fight against African swine fever and the damage caused by wild boars to agriculture.

A "selective removal" activity (wild boar hunting with specific limitations) is already in progress on the territory. The decision to anticipate the hunting season for wild boars to September 1 in 14 areas was made by Filippini a few days ago.

The decision to allow this expanded hunting activity was a result of a derogation request presented by the Piedmont Region's Agriculture Assessor, Paolo Bongioanni. The African swine fever is a disease that affects wild boars and pigs. This news comes as a response to the growing concern over the spread of the disease in Europe and the need for effective measures to control it.