Sri Lanka is at risk of losing its entire wild boar population due to African swine fever, which has already resulted in the deaths of approximately 100 animals, according to wildlife authorities. Dr. Tharaka Prasad, Director of Wildlife Health at the Department of Wildlife Conservation, reported to the Daily Mirror that the fatalities have primarily occurred in Block 1 of Yala National Park and urban areas including Gampaha, Meerigama, Peradeniya, and Monaragala.
The outbreak has significantly impacted the pork industry. Dr. Prasad explained that the mortality rate from this disease is 100 percent, heightening concerns over the potential extinction of the wild boar population.
Reports of wild boar deaths prompted authorities to collect samples for testing, which revealed the presence of both swine flu and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, the latter of which poses a lower risk due to its reduced mortality rate. In contrast, swine fever is highly contagious and fatal to pigs.
Dr. Prasad emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that the number of wild boar deaths remains unquantified. The Sri Lankan wild boar, a subspecies of the Indian wild boar, is notably smaller and has a distinctive crest of hair, with a robust population in the wild, although it is not a protected species.
