Generalitat authorities have launched a drastic plan to eradicate all wild boars within six kilometres of the African swine fever outbreak zone near Barcelona.
The emergency protocol, mobilising 400 agents, aims to prevent the lethal virus from spreading beyond the initial containment area near the Autonomous University campus where infected boars were first discovered.
Generalitat Plan Enforces Strict Sanitary Perimeter
The contingency plan, last revised on 1 October by the Department of Agriculture, establishes a clear objective.
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Consequently, once the initial high-virulence phase subsides, all remaining live boars within the infected zone must be captured using methods that prevent their dispersal. The document explicitly states that traditional hunting drives are not applicable, requiring instead a surgical, immediate approach to eliminate animals.
This operation will affect a wide perimeter near Barcelona within the Vallès Occidental region, including areas of Sabadell, Sant Cugat, and Cerdanyola. For now, the plan enforces a total prohibition on hunting wild boar and other game species, as well as freshwater fishing, within the sanitary cordon. Furthermore, the use of dogs is largely ruled out, except for specially trained carcass detection dogs handled by qualified personnel.
According to the Generalitat’s official protocol, the primary goals in the high-risk zone are to avoid accidental viral dispersal, confine boar populations, obstruct contact between groups, and safely destroy infected carcasses. The measures reflect the severe economic threat the disease poses, as it has already begun affecting Spanish exports.
Drastically Reducing Boar Populations in Wider Surveillance Zone
Beyond the core eradication zone, the Generalitat plan mandates a drastic reduction in boar density within a secondary 20-kilometre surveillance ring. This area includes the Barcelona-facing flank of the Collserola mountain range. The so-called “sanitary emptying” is designed to minimise the risk of contact with infected animals and requires a rapid implementation plan.
The contingency document clarifies that hunters’ collaboration may be enlisted for this population reduction measure. Therefore, authorities must evaluate how to cull the maximum number of individuals while causing minimal animal movement into adjacent areas to avoid spreading the virus. This coordinated effort is crucial to prevent boars from moving between the surveillance and infection zones.
Boar incursions into residential areas have been a persistent issue in Barcelona’s mountain neighbourhoods, though their frequency has mitigated compared to previous years. Based on hunting data, the Collserola Natural Park estimated an average density of 9.1 boars per square kilometre in 2024, down from 12.5 in 2022. This existing population management context now faces an unprecedented public health challenge. The situation underscores the complex balance between urban wildlife and disease control, a theme also explored in recent large-scale security operations targeting other metropolitan risks.
The unfolding Generalitat plan represents a critical test for regional authorities in managing a zoonotic disease outbreak at the edge of a major European city. Its success will hinge on the precise execution of these stringent measures to protect both animal health and the local economy.
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