In the midst of a swine fever epidemic, Estonia suggests producing canned wild boar for the military forces of Ukraine.
The Baltic Republic of Estonia is currently grappling with an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in both domestic pigs and wild boars. As a result, a mass culling of over 17,000 domestic pigs and a mass shooting of wild boars have been carried out, according to the Animal Health and Welfare Department at the Department of Agriculture and Food in Estonia.
The ASF virus has been detected in 67 wild boars in Estonia, leading to the disposal of the meat of infected animals, not its processing. The Estonian government is ensuring that the meat of infected wild boars is not processed or distributed.
In a bid to support Ukraine, the Estonian Minister of Regional Development and Agriculture, Hendrik Terras, has made an offer. The offer is for canned wild boar for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Minister has assured that the meat is from non-infected animals.
This initiative to provide smoked wild boar for the Ukrainian army was made by a German private hunter association in March 2023. The Estonian government is taking steps to ensure that only safe and non-infected meat is being offered for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Olev Kalda, head of the Animal Health and Welfare Department at the Department of Agriculture and Food in Estonia, stated that the meat of wild boars infected with the ASF virus is being disposed of and not processed. He further added that the offer of canned wild boar for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is being made with the assurance of its safety from the ASF virus.
The ASF outbreak in Estonia has not affected the safety of the wild boar meat being offered for Ukraine. The Estonian government is taking measures to ensure the safety of the meat being offered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
This move by Estonia comes at a time when Ukraine is facing food shortages due to the ongoing conflict. The offer of canned wild boar for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a gesture of solidarity and support from the Estonian government.
