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Over six million euros for wild boar shooting in Saxony-Anhalt!
Since 2021, Saxony-Anhalt has been paying over 6 million euros in premiums for hunted wild boars to combat African swine fever.
Over six million euros for wild boar shooting in Saxony-Anhalt!
A remarkable success in wild boar hunting: Saxony-Anhalt has already paid out over six million euros since the introduction of the shooting bonus at the beginning of 2021. A total of 92,923 wild boars were shot during this time. This is seen as a promising step to counteract the threatening spread of African swine fever (ASF), which has been able to cause enormous economic damage since it was first detected in Germany in September 2020. It is particularly pleasing that Saxony-Anhalt has so far been spared from ASF cases, as Zeit.de reports.
The incentives for hunters are having an effect. In the current 2024/25 hunting year, 34,335 wild boars were shot, which represents an increase compared to previous years (29,650 in the 2023/24 hunting year and 26,527 in 2022/23). The large hunting areas took place primarily in the districts of Wittenberg, Harz and Anhalt-Bitterfeld. Most of the animals were shot here to avoid damage to agriculture and forestry.
Protection against African swine fever
The introduction of the shooting bonus was particularly important after ASF was detected in a wild boar in Brandenburg, just 70 kilometers from Saxony-Anhalt. These worrying developments have led to the State Office for Consumer Protection in Stendal now having live wild boars without symptoms of the disease tested for the viral disease in order to check for all eventualities. This contagious and usually fatal disease is a massive threat that can lead to economic challenges even without an active outbreak MDR.de writes.
The hunters in Saxony-Anhalt also use modern technology. The use of night vision attachments and attachments has been permitted since February 2020. This innovative method helps to hunt wild boars more effectively, although it is not always easy to use. These exemptions, which apply differently across the country, have enabled hunters to act more efficiently against the wild boar population German Hunting Association leads.
Political support for the shooting bonus
The shooting bonus is secured until further notice: the Agriculture Committee voted by a large majority in favor of its continuation. A proposal from Alliance 90/The Greens to cancel the bonus did not receive the necessary support. State politicians agree that the premium is necessary to reduce the wild boar population and prevent an outbreak of ASF in Saxony-Anhalt.
With 1.35 million euros planned annually in the budget plans for the coming years, the bonus is firmly planned. The hunters themselves are happy about this development and are willing to do their part to curb the wild boar population and the risk of ASF.
The current situation is a good example of how targeted measures in agriculture and hunting not only bring economic benefits, but can also make a valuable contribution to animal health. If the cooperation between hunters, politics and administration continues to work so smoothly, the region will have a promising future.