The bodies of wild boars have been spotted in the Zatsyany Forestry District of Zakarpattia Oblast. Residents of nearby villages fear an outbreak of infectious diseases, but the relevant authorities have not yet taken notice of the emergency.
This was reported by the publication "Novyny Zakarpattia."
Local activist Vasyl Ivashko published information about the mass death of wild animals. According to him, he noticed the bodies of dead wild boars not only in dense undergrowth but also in open areas. This may indicate the rapid spread of an unknown disease.
Source: Vasyl Ivashko on Facebook
Residents of the Korolivska community, in particular the village of Cherna, are concerned about the animal deaths. According to local residents, one possible cause could be African swine fever. If the worst-case scenario comes true, this deadly disease could spread to household farms and result in the loss of domestic animals.
The activist notes in comments that there are no signs of gunshot wounds on the animals, so poaching is unlikely. At the same time, many commenters suggest that the cause of death could be linked to the activities of local farming enterprises, in particular, poisoned grain.
No response
According to the activist, regional sanitary and veterinary services have not yet responded to the threatening situation.
Due to the authorities ignoring the issue, forest rangers have been forced to personally deal with the burial of potentially dangerous animal remains.
“If the cause of the deaths is a viral disease, delays in analysis could lead to an environmental disaster. An unknown illness could wipe out the entire population of wild animals in the area within days,” add “Novyny Zakarpattia”.
According to the publication, residents are demanding the immediate dispatch of a mobile laboratory to the Zatyansky forestry to establish the official cause of death of the boars – poisoning or a viral disease.
EcoPolitic has previously reported on the threats facing wild animals in Ukraine. In addition to the obvious military actions, residents of forests and steppes are threatened by unfenced highways and agrochemicals.
