The large-scale hunt will take place on 4 and 5 July between Pétange and Sterpenich. The hunt will be a type of beat hunt but without dogs aiding hunters.
Ordinarily, these types of hunts are not organised at this time of year as the forests are too dense and too much young game is on the move. However, Minister of Agriculture Romain Schneider explained on Tuesday that this is an 'indispensable' measure in order to eliminate wild boars in the buffer zone.
The hunt has consequently been organised for 4 and 5 July in collaboration with the Nature Conservation agency, the Veterinary Inspectorate, and hunters as a means to protect the Grand Duchy from any potential African Swine Fever outbreak. The hunt will take place from 9 am to 2 pm over the course of both days. Walkers should avoid the entire zone before 2 pm.
An expert report recommended taking measures before the summer in order to eliminate all wild boars in the buffer zone. The urgency resides in the fact that each year experiences two peak disease periods: one in winter and the other in August or September, which is when young game starts to move.
No dogs will take part in the hunt in order to limit agitation within the forest. On Wednesday 3 July, the day before the hunt begins, a drone will fly over the region to locate wild boar populations. This will be a difficult task, even for drones, as it will be tricky to see through the thick growth in the forest.
Next Tuesday, the Ministry of Agriculture will present the results of the hunt alongside the concerned actors, once laboratories have determined whether any infected animals were shot.
A second phase will involve the placement of traps in order to capture any remaining boars, which will be shot and tested. At the announcement, the ministry specified that everything has been in order to extend the fence towards the north for the past few weeks, in the event of the discovery of a contaminated cadaver.
