The deployment to stop the African swine fever (ASF) in the wild boars of the province of Barcelona It relies heavily on technology and canine sense of smell. Drones with thermal cameras and trained dogs scour forests, fields, and hard-to-reach areas with a very clear mission: to quickly find dead or sick animals without dispersing the rest of the wildlife or causing unnecessary disturbances.
On the ground, the Rural agents and other security forces are working in coordination The operation encompasses a perimeter of up to 20 kilometers around the initial outbreak, with strict access restrictions. It combines foot patrols, daytime and nighttime drone flights, and specialized canine units, while laboratories analyze the carcasses of removed wild boars and experts continue to investigate the possible origin of the outbreak.
An outbreak of African swine fever monitored down to the millimeter
The focus is located in the area of Cerdanyola del Vallès and the Collserola parkin the Barcelona metropolitan area. Since the first cases were detected, the system has recovered around a hundred dead wild boars in the so-called "ground zero" and its immediate surroundings. Of these, the authorities have so far confirmed thirteen positive cases in SPP, all within the perimeter considered to be at highest risk.
The officers point out that not all the bodies found are related to this disease: many could have died from other causes. Other common pathologies in the species include tuberculosis and trichinosis.Even so, all bodies found in the security area are removed and analyzed, with the aim of ruling out or confirming the presence of the virus and maintaining exhaustive health control over the wild boar population.
To organize the work, the territory has been structured into two concentric crownsThe first area, with a radius of six kilometers, is considered a high-risk zone and has already been intensively searched by the teams. The second area, completing a 20-kilometer circle, is classified as a lower-risk area but remains under close surveillance, with access restrictions and ongoing tracking operations.
In total, the expanded perimeter affects dozens of municipalities in Barcelona There are already numerous natural corridors used by wild boars. Within this area there are also pig farms with an estimated capacity of about 80.000 headTherefore, all biosecurity measures on farms have been reinforced to prevent the virus from jumping to domestic pigs.
The Ministry of Agriculture has insisted that, as long as the outbreak remains confined to the wild boar population, A mass culling of domestic pigs is not anticipated.The animals on the farms continue with their normal fattening and slaughter cycle, under reinforced veterinary monitoring and strict cleaning and disinfection protocols.
Dogs and drones: this is how they combine on the ground
The heart of the device is the coordination between teams on foot, drones and canine unitsRural Agents, along with other bodies, divide the landscape into sectors and search them inch by inch, while drones fly over open and less accessible areas to save time and expand the search field.
The drones equipped with thermal and infrared cameras They allow the detection of both live wild boars and carcasses. Even after death, the animal's body retains a thermal contrast for a time, making it easier to locate from the air. When the drone identifies a suspicious signal, it precisely geolocates the point and sends the coordinates to the command center, which then mobilizes ground teams to verify the situation.
If a specimen with symptoms consistent with ASF is found in that location—such as extreme weakness, disorientation, or difficulty moving— the support group in charge of captures is activated. In these cases, the animal can be euthanized in a controlled manner and removed by a specialized team that applies very strict biosecurity measures to prevent any spread of the virus.
In areas where vegetation is very dense or the terrain makes access difficult, the following come into play: dogs trained to track corpsesThese dogs are specifically trained to locate wild boar carcasses without chasing live animals or creating chases that could take them out of the monitored perimeter, something considered key to containing the disease.
The dog-guide teams work on grids of about 300 meters on each sideThese areas are tracked and marked using geolocation systems. When a dog finds a carcass, it stays by it, without touching or handling it, waiting for the extraction team to arrive. This behavior contrasts with that of hunting dogs, which tend to chase or corner their prey; here, the goal is not to kill animals, but to locate remains with the least possible disturbance to the environment.
A massive device and cooperation between bodies
The level of deployment is unusual for a disease that affects only wildlife and swine. They are working in the affected area. nearly a thousand people including technical staff and security forces, coming from different fields and administrations.
In addition to the Rural Agents of the Generalitat, the following participate Mossos d'Esquadra, Guardia Civil, local police, Bombers de la Generalitat, Protección Civil, the Military Emergency Unit (UME), forest defense groups and other services such as the Emergency Medical System. All of them are coordinated from an operations center located in Torreferrussa, in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda.
In that command center, the following are planned: drone flights, the deployment of canine teams and the assignment of grid squares to each patrol, in addition to centralizing the information coming in from the field. The data is cross-referenced with the results of laboratory analyses, which allows for adjusting the risk map, deciding which areas should be searched again and where it is most urgent to reinforce surveillance.
The operation includes at least fifteen canine teams Already deployed, and more teams are expected to join if the situation requires it. Along with the units in Catalonia, the following are collaborating: dogs and handlers from the Community of Madrid, the Civil Guard, and even personnel from Andorra, in an example of inter-territorial cooperation that seeks to close any possible escape routes for the virus.
The presence of the UME (Military Emergency Unit) provides not only personnel but also significant logistical support. Its teams are responsible for set up disinfection pointsThis includes supporting access to wooded areas, ensuring the supply of materials, and assisting in the cleaning and decontamination of vehicles and equipment. All of this is in addition to the surveillance, access control, and public assistance provided by police, emergency services, and volunteers.
Dog training and disinfection protocols
The dogs used in this operation are not typical hunting dogs. Their work is geared towards... specialized detection of wild boar carcasses The search for remains in complex natural environments has been undertaken. For this purpose, they have been selected for their stability, concentration, and obedience—characteristics that are essential when working among other animals and in variable conditions.
During training, it is emphasized that the dogs should not chase live animals, but rather focus on the trail left by the dead ones. In this way, if a dog comes across a healthy wild boar, It doesn't corner him or force him to fleeThis prevents sudden movements outside the controlled area. When they locate a corpse, they signal the spot to the guide while remaining nearby, without moving or biting the body.
To prevent these same dogs from becoming an unwitting vector of ASF, a rigorous three-phase disinfection protocolA first cleaning is carried out in the work area, especially if the animal has stepped on debris or secretions. Before loading them onto the vehicle that takes them to the command center, a second disinfection is performed, and once at the facilities, a third disinfection is completed, with a more thorough cleaning of the fur and limbs.
Similar protocols apply to officers and vehicles entering and leaving the search area. tires, car undercarriages, boots and clothing Visitors pass through arches or over mats soaked in disinfectant, a procedure also observed during occasional visits by journalists to the area. At some points, disposable plastic shoe covers are even provided to minimize any risk.
The Rural Agents emphasize that the Collecting dead wild boars is not a new practiceFor years, the unit has monitored the carcasses of wild animals found in the wild to control endemic diseases. What has changed now is the volume: with African swine fever (ASF), both the number of animals found and the number of reports from citizens who come across a dead wild boar and call the emergency services have skyrocketed.
Control perimeter, limitations and the role of citizens
To ensure that no corner is left unchecked, the affected zone The area has been divided into 300-meter squares, creating a sort of game board over the terrain. Each square is assigned to a team, which marks what they have found, the routes taken, and the points that need to be revisited. This avoids duplication of effort and maintains a very detailed record of the operation's progress.
In inner ring of six kilometersIn the area considered to be of highest risk, intensive tracking has already been completed. In the outer zone, up to 20 kilometers, work continues and is combined with regular inspections, especially in wildlife crossings and areas where wild boar have been previously detected. Special attention is being paid to natural corridors that could facilitate the escape of animals from the perimeter.
One of the complementary objectives is close or control those corridorsThis can be achieved through physical barriers, constant patrols, or drone surveillance. The idea is that if a wild boar leaves the designated area, it can be detected quickly and action taken according to established protocols. All of this is done while minimizing interference with other species inhabiting the area.
For now, the Catalan authorities have opted for do not promote mass captures of live wild boars within the perimeter. The priority has been to determine the number of animals, their concentration, and what percentage might be affected. Whether intensive hunting or selective culling will ultimately depend on the European Union's decision and how the positive cases evolve in the coming weeks.
Citizens play a significant role in this scheme. The various bodies involved emphasize the need to respect access restrictions to forests and trails within the designated area. Although ASF does not affect humans, they can carry the virus on the soles of their shoes, on their clothing, or on vehicle tires after stepping in feces or remains of an infected animal.
In general, those in charge of the operation view the public response positively, although they acknowledge that there are always some "unaware" individuals who manage to sneak into restricted areas. They also highlight that there has been a Increase in citizen calls reporting findings of dead wild boarsThis collaboration is very useful for shortening response times and reducing team travel.
While this intensive tracking continues, specialized laboratories are working on the genetic analysis of the ASF virus Detected in the area. Experts are confident that this sequencing will allow them to clarify with considerable precision the origin of the outbreak and its relationship to strains circulating in other European countries. Hypotheses being considered include an entry from abroad or an incident linked to laboratory facilities, while less likely theories, such as contaminated food consumed by chance, are being ruled out.
All this machinery—trained dogs, thermal drones, agents deployed by land, air and, in some cases, with military support—pursues a very specific objective: Containing African swine fever in the wild boar population of Barcelona and prevent it from spreading to pig farms or other areas of Europe. The combination of technology, field experience, and citizen collaboration is allowing the outbreak to be kept under close control, demonstrating the extent to which coordination between different administrations and bodies can make all the difference in an animal health crisis.
