Closed gates trap up to 100 wild boar near Russia border

Up to 100 wild boar are roaming near Finland’s eastern border after wildlife gates in the border fence were closed, raising fears that the animals could move west, Yle reports.

The estimate is based on images from game cameras, according to Anne Woivalin, director of the Finnish Food Authority’s regional disease-control centre. The Border Guard closed a wildlife gate on the border in early August to help control African swine fever.

The wild boar’s natural range extends across both sides of the border. Previously, the animals sometimes crossed into Finland to feed before returning to their range in Russia. Their usual route has now been disrupted, which may make them restless.

“The fear is that they will head west,” Woivalin said.

Strict restrictions are in force in the African swine fever infection zone, particularly in its core area, to keep the wild boar from moving away from the disease’s central zone. Human movement and loud behaviour in the area could also scare the animals into moving. They are being fed in the core area to encourage them to stay in place.

Warning signs about the disease will be installed in the core area this week. People are not allowed to move through the forest there so the wild boar are not disturbed.

A wildlife fence is planned for the core area to prevent the animals from leaving. Construction cannot begin until infections outside the core area have been investigated sufficiently. The Finnish Food Authority estimates that building the fence would take several months. Once it is complete, wild boar remaining inside the core area could be removed by shooting or trapping.

On Friday evening, the Finnish Food Authority expanded the African swine fever infection zone to include all of the municipalities of Kotka, Hamina and Pyhtää. It also includes parts of the city of Loviisa, the municipality of Lapinjärvi and the city of Kouvola. The authority will decide this week on more detailed restrictions for the new area and whether restrictions in the existing zone need to be changed.