A heated debate has erupted in Catalonia over the urgent need to reduce the wild boar population. The reason is an outbreak of African swine fever detected in the Collserola natural park in Barcelona. President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, who is on a working visit to Mexico, held an online meeting with mayors of municipalities affected by the epidemic. Following the meeting, he stated that the region needs to tighten control over the number of wild boars to prevent further spread of the dangerous virus.
Illa stressed that the situation requires decisive but measured actions. According to him, it is necessary not only to continue, but also to strengthen measures to regulate animal numbers. At the same time, he noted that any actions must be strictly within the law and carried out with respect for nature, in order to avoid excessive hunting and indiscriminate culling.
Control measures
Emergency Military Service (Unidad Militar de Emergencias, UME) units are already operating in the Collserola area. Their task is to limit the spread of the virus among wild animals and prevent it from reaching pig farms. Nine confirmed cases of the disease among wild boars have been identified in the risk zone. Authorities in Catalonia are considering extending similar measures to other regions of the autonomous community where the wild boar population also exceeds acceptable levels.
To coordinate actions, the Generalitat has already begun negotiations with hunting associations. New protocols for regulating wild animal populations are expected to be developed soon. Authorities emphasize that this is not about total eradication, but rather targeted control to minimize risks to agriculture and public health.
Exports at risk
The outbreak of African swine fever in Barcelona has raised concerns not only among farmers, but also on the international market. China and South Korea, two of the largest buyers of Spanish pork, have temporarily restricted imports from the province of Barcelona. However, following explanations from the Generalitat and the Ministry of Agriculture, these countries agreed to ease the restrictions: the ban applies only to products produced within the outbreak zone.
British authorities have also decided not to impose a full ban on Spanish pork imports. However, they have established a restriction: products produced within a 20-kilometer radius of the affected area will not be allowed for import. Exports from the rest of Catalonia continue as usual, helping the industry avoid significant economic losses.
Public reaction
The issue of regulating the wild boar population has long been a subject of debate in Catalonia. On one hand, farmers and pig farm owners support the authorities’ initiatives, fearing new disease outbreaks and crop damage. On the other hand, environmentalists and some residents oppose the mass culling of animals, insisting on finding more humane solutions.
Salvador Illa called for a balance between the interests of agriculture and ecosystem preservation. He stressed that any measures should be transparent and coordinated with experts. Authorities promise to keep the public informed about each stage of the fight against the epidemic and the control of the wild boar population.
