KUCHING – The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has beefed up enforcement initiatives to clamp down on the illegal trade of bushmeat, especially that of the Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus).
This initiative comes after Sabah announced that recent deaths among its bearded pig population in the jungles of Pitas was due to the African swine fever (ASF).
SFC chief executive and controller of wildlife Zolkipli Mohamad Aton told The Vibes: “We have not heard of any reports of sudden mass deaths of bearded pigs in Sarawak, but we are on heightened vigilance as ASF has been reported in northern Sabah.”
Sarawak shares a border with Sabah at its northeast.
Zolkipli said SFC is working hand in glove with the Sarawak Veterinary Services Department (DVSS) by monitoring the situation.
He said SFC and DVSS will also provide alerts of any reports of mysterious and sudden deaths of the wild pig population in the state.
“SFC is pleased with the recent announcement by Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas on the ban of pig and pork products from Sabah.
“The minister said that it is important to protect the local pig industry due its economic importance to the state. He had also indicated that DVSS wants to ensure the state continues to be free from zoonotic diseases.”
He said SFC has been entrusted to protect Sarawak’s wildlife, and is concerned of the potential for the spread of ASF in the bearded pig population in the state.
“One of the pathways to prevent an ASF outbreak here is to clamp down on the illegal trading of bearded pigs in markets and logging camps in the state.”
He said the illegal trade market is a potential conduit for the virus to head into the wild population.
Meanwhile, it is reported that commercially-bred pigs in Pitas and other affected areas will be culled following an outbreak of ASF in the district.
Sabah Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the Sabah Veterinary Services Department has declared an ASF outbreak in Pitas following the discovery of the virus among farm-bred pigs there.
ASF is a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. An ASF outbreak can cause serious losses in the commercial pig farming industry. This transboundary disease can be spread by live or dead pigs, domestic or wild and via pork products.
Transmission can also occur via contaminated feed, and fomites (non-living objects) such as shoes, clothing, vehicles and farm tools due to the high environmental resistance of the ASF virus.
There is no approved vaccine against ASF. Historically, outbreaks have been reported in Africa and parts of Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. More recently (since 2007) the disease has been reported in multiple countries across Africa, Asia and Europe, in both domestic and wild pigs.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, in uncontrolled situations in Europe and various places around the world, ASF has been shown to spread into the wild pig population and the presence of the ASF virus in a “wild boar-habitat cycle” is a serious challenge for the pig production sector and wildlife management authorities. – The Vibes, February 24, 2021
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