Spanish authorities have deployed police, military personnel, and park rangers to combat the threat of African swine fever, which poses a risk to the country’s vital pork export industry. The coordinated effort aims to prevent the disease from spreading to domestic pig populations, which is critical given Spain’s status as the European Union’s largest pork exporter and the second-largest globally.
To locate potentially infected wild boars, operatives are utilizing drones, infrared technology, and sniffer dogs. They are actively searching for carcasses to test for the virus and are sealing off areas surrounding animal tracks under highways and pipelines to restrict the movement of live wild boars into other regions. Since the weekend, police have established a presence and placed signs around the popular Collserola mountain range near Barcelona to deter visitors from entering areas at risk.
Residents in the park have been advised to keep their dogs on leads and report any sightings of wild boars. Within the agricultural sector, the trade association Interporc confirmed that existing disease prevention measures have been strengthened. These measures include enhanced testing and quarantining protocols for new animals, perimeter fencing, bird netting, regular disinfection, and stringent employee dress codes.
Government veterinarians are inspecting farms in the vicinity and collecting samples, although none of the 39 farms in the area have tested positive for African swine fever so far. The outbreak has triggered concerns, reminiscent of the significant swine fever outbreak in 1994, which led to mass culls of pigs and a complete suspension of pork exports from Spain.
Despite the serious nature of the situation, Emilio Garcia Muro, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that there are currently no plans to initiate a cull of wild boars. “We are going to leave the wild boars in peace, in this area,” he noted. He emphasized that specialized teams will be deployed to detect carcasses, with the primary goal of avoiding disruption or harm to wildlife.
The pork sector is a cornerstone of Spain’s economy, generating approximately €25 billion in revenue and employing over 400,000 workers. Spain’s annual pork exports exceed €8 billion (about $A14 billion), with major markets including France, Italy, the United Kingdom, China, and Japan.
In August 2022, Catalan authorities initiated a controlled cull of wild boar populations that had begun encroaching on urban areas, driven by changes in behavior during pandemic lockdowns. The current actions reflect a proactive approach to safeguard both public health and the economic stability of the pork industry in Spain.
