Abstract

Simple SummaryEffectiveness and successful implementation of control measures greatly depend on hunters’ willingness and motivation to carry out these measures. Therefore, assessing their opinions regarding the current system is paramount in order to achieve the best possible results. The present study provides insights of hunters’ attitudes and perceptions about measures to control African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar in Lithuania. This study highlights several measures that are not supported by hunters (i.e., restriction of hunting, selective female hunting, ban of supplementary feeding, involvement of additional forces in ASF control) and possible motivational options (i.e., reduction of work, financial incentives and improved feedback and relationships with government officials). Considering these findings when planning and altering control measures for ASF could improve their successful implementation in the field.After the introduction of African swine fever (ASF) into Lithuania in 2014, continuous spread of the disease resulted in infection of the wild boar populations in most parts of Lithuania. The virus has been moving closer to other Western European countries where pig density is high. An efficient surveillance system detecting ASF cases early in domestic and wild animals is necessary to manage this disease. To make surveillance appropriate and effective, it is critical to understand how key players perceive the implemented control measures. This study investigated the attitudes and beliefs of hunters in Lithuania regarding currently implemented or proposed measures for the control of ASF in the wild boar population. Study data were collected through questionnaires distributed via the internet and by hunting associations in Lithuania. In total, 621 fully completed questionnaires were received and analyzed. All measures interfering with extensive hunting, like ban of driven or individual hunting or ban of supplementary feeding were considered as unacceptable and as ineffective measures to control ASF in wild boar. However, selective hunting of female wild boar was generally considered as an unethical act and therefore rejected. Some measures that seem to have been successful in other countries, like involvement of additional forces, were rejected by Lithuanian hunters, thus implementation of these measures could be difficult. The study highlighted that there is a need for improving important relationships with other stakeholders, since many hunters expressed a lack of trust in governmental institutions and regarded cooperation with them as insufficient. Hunters emphasized that their motivation to support passive surveillance measures could be improved with financial compensation and reduction of workload. The present study provides insights into hunters’ perceptions, which may be used as a foundation for additional discussions with these important stakeholders and for adapting measures to improve their acceptance if appropriate.

Highlights

  • African swine fever (ASF) is a virulent disease that poses a major threat to animal health and trade in many European Union countries and is one of the most important viral diseases for the pig industry [1,2]

  • Hunters originated from all counties of Lithuania, but most of them were from the larger Lithuanian counties (i.e., Vilnius, Kaunas and Šiauliai)

  • Respondents mentioned that there was not enough cooperation with the government institutions regarding passive surveillance and testing procedures, adding that they felt a lack of respect for hunters. These findings indicate that the contact between stakeholders may have to be improved, as satisfactory relationships can increase the acceptability of control measures and willingness to cooperate [25,30]

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Summary

Introduction

African swine fever (ASF) is a virulent disease that poses a major threat to animal health and trade in many European Union countries and is one of the most important viral diseases for the pig industry [1,2]. While soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros have shown to be competent vectors for ASFV and can maintain the virus in the environment in African countries and played some role in ASF transmission on the Iberian Peninsula in the past, their geographical distribution in Eurasia is mainly limited to the Mediterranean Basin, to Transcaucasian countries and some parts of Russian Federation [7]. Since hunters are the crucial contributors for passive surveillance in wild boar, knowledge about their attitudes and willingness to participate in the implemented and proposed measures is essential [21]. Their views are needed to revise and to improve current surveillance systems, and to increase the chances of their successful implementation. The present study aimed to assess the perceptions, concerns of hunters and their willingness to support ASF control measures that are currently implemented in Lithuania

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