NP De Hoge Veluwe closes a park for wild boar

African swine fever is a contagious viral disease that can occur in "normal" domestic pigs and other species of pigs, including the wild boar of the Netherlands. The disease comes from Africa, but since 2007, it is also found in Russia, Ukraine and Poland. Since 2014, the virus has appeared in a greater number of countries in Western Europe. In September 2018, he made a big leap forward and was revealed in Belgium. The clinical picture of African swine fever is very similar to that of classical swine fever: fever, lifeless pigs, lack of appetite, inflamed ocular mucous membranes, red skin, (bloody) diarrhea and vomiting. Animals can die. The disease is not dangerous for people.

De Hoge Veluwe National Park has now decided to immediately close the doors of his pigs to prevent any infected pig from entering the park from the outside. The head of park operations, Jakob Leidschekker, explains: "One of the ways in which the virus can be transferred is pork in pigs.We want to counter that as much as possible now." Our pig gates are designed to make possible migration between pigs between our nature reserve and other areas around us. "De Hoge Veluwe National Park is a fenced natural reserve with opportunities for deer, boars and other animals to pass through these grids. in different places. . Leidekker: "The deer can always come in and out of the grid."

The virus can move in another way, for example via contaminated materials, moved by man. Leidekker: "The latter is almost impossible to prevent, but that does not take away from the fact that we can already do what we can."

This is a temporary measure announced at an administrative meeting with the executive of the province of Gelderland, Drenth. This is also emphasized on a re-examination of the provincial training policy. The De Hoge Veluwe National Park is of the opinion that with respect to contagious animal diseases, such as African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease, it is essential that the Veluwe can be compartmentalised by closing the grates.