WILLING TON: A government spokesman said the decision was taken to bring about a “significant reduction” in the wild boar population and contain the risk of farm pigs being infected.
The virus, which causes African swine fever, is harmless to humans and other animals. But for wild boar and farm pigs, the disease is deadly in almost all cases within 10 days.
Germany, a major European Union pig producer, has watched with growing concern as the highly contagious disease has spread westward across Europe. A reported case could trigger mass culls.
Animal protection group PETA criticised the cabinet’s decision, saying the government was subordinating animal welfare to economic interests.
“The de facto cancelling of the off-season will cause great animal suffering, because the young are dependent on their mother during the rearing phase,” PETA said in a statement. “Countless piglets will starve to death.”
Infected wild boars have been found in the Czech Republic and Poland, while backyard pigs with the disease were found in Romania in January.
