Tools that make the difference
Three simple letters that are terribly frightening. PSA (African Swine Fever) It represents a major challenge for animal and wildlife health across Europe, given that it has spread to many (too many) EU countries. Controlling the disease requires intense collaboration between multiple stakeholders, from authorities to scientists and hunters, who are called upon to monitor wild boar populations and identify infected carcasses. Technology can make a difference, however, as reported by FACE (European Federation for Hunting and Conservation).
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Digital mapping
The backdrop for this successful online initiative was a Scandinavian nation, Sweden. It was here that the swine fever outbreak was best managed by authorities and hunters in 2023 thanks to an app, WeHunt. This digital mapping system accelerated the tracking of searched areas, the search for the greatest possible number of infected carcasses, and the documentation of results in real time. In short, coordination between the stakeholders was strengthened.
Nothing to try, nothing to do.
The WeHunt app was developed by Natlink, a Stockholm-based startup that prioritizes cooperation. As FACE itself acknowledged, such a solution might not work everywhere, given that each country has its own specific geography, unique hunting structures, and local organization. It's equally true, however, that it's a practical example that shouldn't be underestimated or dismissed, given the results achieved: after all, as Salvador Dalí loved to point out, those who don't imitate something never produce anything.
