Sniffer noses help in the fight against swine fever

The state of Baden-Württemberg starts a training project for ASF cadaver searches at the TCRH Training Center Rescue and Help in Mosbach

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The spread of African swine fever is worrying

African swine fever has been spreading among wild boars in Brandenburg since the beginning of September 2020. The epidemic has now also been detected in Saxony. This worries not only pig farmers, but also hunters in Baden-Württemberg. Minister of Forestry Peter Hauk MdL emphasizes the urgency of hunting wild boar. “The smaller the wild boar population, the lower the likelihood of swine fever infection being transmitted from animal to animal.

According to Hauk, despite Corona-related restrictions, we must continue to increase the intensity of wild boar hunting and that is why we also allowed hunts with up to 100 people in Baden-Württemberg last week.

Training of cadaver detection teams as a Europe-wide model measure

Back in 2018, the Ministry of Rural Areas and Consumer Protection launched a 12-point plan to prevent and combat African swine fever as part of prevention measures. “So we are on the right track.

Regardless of this, we are working on further refining the program of measures for emergencies. The training of cadaver detection dogs and dog handlers is an ideal complement and, in this style, a model measure across Europe,” explains the Agriculture Minister.

Search teams for preventive and ad hoc operations

At the Training Center for Rescue and Help (TCRH) in Mosbach (Baden-Württemberg), a joint training and operational concept is implemented by the Federal Association of Rescue Dogs (BRH), the Hunting Dog Association (JGHV) and the Federal Police for carcass search teams. The aim is to provide search teams for preventive and ad hoc operations on behalf of the authorities.

The TCRH offers education, training, education and training in the areas Civil protection, Disaster preparedness, inner and outer Safety.

The quality of training must be guaranteed sustainably

“We are pleased that, together with the JGHV and the federal police, we can help in the fight against swine fever and are training dog handlers and dogs from all over Germany,” explains Jürgen Schart, President of the BRH Federal Association of Rescue Dogs e.V. (BRH). The aim is to be able to search as large an area as possible with dogs in a short time.

Karl Walch, President of the Hunting Dog Association (JGHV), adds: “The training of carcass search teams must be sufficient and qualitatively assured in order to be able to carry out preventative searches at hot spots and longer-term ad hoc operations.”

Karl Walch, President of the Hunting Dog Association
Minister Peter Hauk, Ministry of Rural Areas and Consumption Protection Baden-Württemberg
Jürgen Schart, President of the BRH Federal Association of Rescue Dogs
(left to right)

70 teams for carcass search

BRH and JGHV have been working on the topic for over a year. They are supported by specialists from the Federal Police in order to be able to quickly train a sufficient number of search dog teams in the fight against swine fever.

In the next two years, at least 70 search dog teams are to be trained on the TCRH site near Mosbach with the support of the BRH, the JGHV and the Federal Police.

“This pilot project will network competencies and expand the means of intervention in order to have a preventative effect and to be able to react quickly in the event of an epidemic,” said Minister Peter Hauk MdL at the start of training for the cadaver search teams.

An Pandemic and hygiene concept ensures the feasibility of training and deployment activities.

Appeal to the population

Minister Hauk appeals to the population:

“Swine fever is completely harmless to humans, but poses a significant danger to domestic wild boar and pig populations. Therefore, do not throw food leftovers into nature, but dispose of them in closed garbage containers and do not feed animals with kitchen or food leftovers .”

Sniffer noses help in the fight against swine fever