Is Mass Culling of Wild Boars an Effective Strategy for ASF Control?

• The 'SOS Senglars' platform and various environmental, legal, and scientific entities are protesting against the mass culling of wild boars as a response to African Swine Fever (ASF) in Catalonia.
• Critics argue that the current government strategy prioritizes the economic interests of the swine industry—which exports most of its product—over ecosystem preservation and animal welfare.
• Proponents of the policy argue it is necessary for sanitary emergency, but opponents contend it is disproportionate and violates the spirit of animal welfare legislation.

Data and Financial Context

• Between November 28, 2025, and May 14, 2026, 19 million euros of public funds were spent on culling wild boars.
• Statistics from the Catalan government show that out of 7,354 wild boars analyzed, only 344 (4.68%) tested positive for ASF, meaning over 95% were healthy.
• Recent data from the week of June 15 shows only 0.4% (2 out of 569) tested positive, raising questions about the necessity of widespread extermination.

The 'One Health' Alternative

• International bodies like the FAO, WOAH, and the European Commission advocate for 'One Health'—a holistic approach linking human, animal, and environmental health.
• The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) suggests that biosecurity and passive surveillance are more effective methods for early detection and disease control than mass killing.
• The government has met with activists and agreed to provide more information and hold further discussions, following pressure to adopt a more transparent and respectful management strategy.