Wild Boar Population Increases in Warsaw, Other Polish Cities; Increasing Risk of African Swine Fever

Wild boar population has increased in Warsaw, Krakow, and other cities and towns across Poland, posing dangerous encounters between humans and wildlife, according to recent reports. As sightings of the roaming boars were recorded in streets and sites in urban areas, Polish authorities warned about the increased risk of acquiring and spreading the African swine fever disease.

In Warsaw and Krakow, city officials advised the public not to feed the wild pigs as the number of the wild animals has increased over the past year, ranging from more than 100 to over 1,000 thousand boars in different human population centers. No wild boar attacks on Polish residents have been reported yet, but wildlife experts warned that wild boars are unpredictable and pose a threat to public safety.

Poland Wild Boar Population

(Photo : Photo by Danny Kroon on Unsplash)

Poland's wild boar population is seemingly getting out of control. Based on reports over the weekend, authorities in Krakow is forced to take the boars into account when it comes to urban planning like creating migration corridors for the animals.

Furthermore, its city hall is also seeking cooperation with hunting clubs with regards to the culling of the pigs during emergency situations. These measures come after Krakow's city council estimated that the wild pig population increased from 150 to between 1,000 and 1,500. This year alone, Krakow authorities captured about 400 wild boars.

In Warsaw, the persistence of the wildlife problem has led to the authorization of limiting the killing of the boars. This comes after the wild boar population, during the first six months of 2023, reached 3,000 in the Polish capital city. The said population is significantly higher compared to the capital's 2,500 wild pig population reported in 2022.

The coastal city of Gdynia is also experiencing a similar wildlife challenge, as wild boars were reportedly seen on its streets. This phenomenon also inspired local project during the country's summer season, where dozens of figurines of orange wild boars were placed across the city streets and even beaches.

Also Read: Israel's Wild Boar have Different Genetic Origins than Region's Other Boar

African Swine Fever

Wild boar attacks are dangerous but the potential for the wild animals to transmit African swine fever or ASF is a different matter entirely. As mentioned earlier, Polish officials are aware of the health threat posed by the boars.

Authorities warned the public that even if the wild pigs they meet on the street looks like more domesticated than their counterparts in the forest, the animals can sill carry viruses that cause African swine fever.

According to the World Health Organization for Animal Health, African swine fever is highly contagious and is a viral disease that infects both domestic and wild pigs with a mortality rate of up to 100%. Although it does not pose a serious threat to human health, the swine flu can decimate local pig populations and even damage the farming economy, according to the organization.