German authorities move ASF fence to protect wildlife
Wild animals were unable to pass the wall during floods
2 March 2022
1 minute read
By: After criticism over the location of a fence for the control the movement of wild boar, potential vectors of African swine fever (ASF), in the Lower Oder Valley National Park, the German ministry of agriculture announced that it will fix the fence by partially relocating it.
The location of the fence is problematic as it blocks animals from leaving a floodplain area that is regularly impacted by flood. The authorities responded to the discovery of injured and killed wild animals along the fence line. The conversion will begin immediately.
At the beginning of the year, more injured and killed wild animals had been found at the ASF fence in the Lower Oder Valley National Park. During severe flooding, the animals were not able to get past the 1.2 meter high fence, the government announcement said. The district of Uckermark reacted immediately by temporarily opening gates, lowering fences to 80 cm, and creating deer passages and small animal ramps. Measures were evaluated using wildlife cameras, which showed deer using the openings.
The agreed upon conversion should further improve the situation of wild animals in the region.
Solid fences are the most important measure in the fight against highly dangerous African swine fever. Brandenburg, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are currently the regions most hit by the disease.
Melanie Epp
Melanie Epp is a freelance agricultural journalist from Ontario, Canada.
