The fight against African swine fever: Protecting wild pigs in Asia and the Pacific

Wild pigs in Asia and the Pacific, including species like the Javan warty pig and the wild boar, play a vital role in their ecosystems. These resilient animals help maintain biodiversity by tilling soil, dispersing seeds and controlling insect populations. However, they face a serious threat: African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious viral disease that endangers both wild and domestic pigs alike.

ASF is a devastating disease that affects pigs of all breeds and ages. It causes severe symptoms, including high fever and internal haemorrhages, often resulting in death. The virus can survive in the environment for a long time and spreads through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated items, making it very difficult to control.

Regional threats: ASF’s spread and impact
In Southeast Asia, where habitat loss and hunting have already put immense pressure on wild pigs, ASF presents a harrowing conservation emergency. The potential extinction of these vulnerable populations would ripple through the ecosystem, destabilizing food webs and diminishing biodiversity. A future without these wild pigs could provoke increased conflict between predators and other species as available food sources dwindle.

Experts recently shared data showing ASF’s toll on wild pig population, including the devastating loss of a captive Visayan warty pig population and a drastic decline in wild pigs’ sightings in Northern Sulawesi in Indonesia. FAO and wildlife experts agree that community-led biosecurity measures and the necessity for educational outreach to enhance ASF awareness in rural communities is important. 

FAO’s strategic response
FAO, the United States of America’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (ROK-MAFRA) have recently partnered to address ASF in the region with a focus on protecting wild pigs. Through this collaboration, FAO, through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), has launched initiatives targeting ASF from multiple fronts.

Initial successes are being seen in an FAO-implemented and multiple donor-funded initiative, especially in the Philippines. A community-based educational initiative called Community ASF Biosecurity Intervention (CABI) is starting to enhance local farmers' awareness of biosecurity measures. ROK-MAFRA and United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID-BHA) are technically and financially supporting the CABI programme. Additionally, FAO has recently launched Protect wild pigs! Protect all pigs! campaign aimed at raising awareness about the importance of protecting wild pigs from ASF.

Collective call to action
ASF poses a grave threat to wild pigs, driving a critical struggle for survival. If unchecked, the disease could push rare species like the Visayan warty pig toward extinction, undermining local ecosystems and economies that depend on these animals. FAO emphasizes that combating ASF requires a collective effort. 

"The stakes have never been higher," say Yooni Oh, FAO Animal Production and Health Officer and ASF Programme Coordinator at its Regional Office for Asia Pacific. "Without sustained and collaborative action, we risk erasing some of Asia’s most iconic wild pigs and the rich ecological and cultural heritage they represent," she added.

The urgency of the situation calls for a shared commitment to safeguard the future of these remarkable creatures and the ecosystems they sustain.