Russian regions restrict movement of wild boars

31-12-2013 | | |
Russian regions restrict movement of wild boars

The Russian republic of Tatarstan as of 5 December has banned any movement of wild boars across its borders in a bid to combat the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), Russian media Ria Novosti reports. Previously the same steps have been taken by the other Russian regions.

The ban forbids anyone involved in the hunting industry to move wild boars in or out of Tatarstan without permission from regional and federal veterinary officials, the republic’s wildlife protection department said.



Authorities believe that unauthorised trade and transport of animals have been major contributors to the spread of the disease. Also Russian regions that are bordering with the regions where the outbreaks of ASF has been registered, restricted import of pork products from that territories.



Previously Lithuania urged the European Union to protect livestock against potentially infected wild boars by funding a construction of a ‘swine fence’ along the borders of Russia and Belarus with the EU states of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland.



The European Commission rejected the idea in September, saying that a fence would be impracticable and would not provide effective protection against African Swine Fever.

Vorotnikov
Vladislav Vorotnikov Eastern Europe correspondent



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