From Catastrophe to Hope: Hunters' Experiences in the Eradication of Sweden's First African Swine Fever Outbreak

In September 2023, Sweden experienced its first ever outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). One year later, in September 2024, Sweden was declared free from ASF. One of the first actions taken toward control and eradication was an intensive search for wild boar carcasses. This was mostly carried out by local hunters. After some time, a core area of infection was fenced in, and all remaining wild boar in that area were culled. Local hunters also performed the culling. This paper presents results from a qualitative study, drawing on focus group discussions (FGDs) with the hunters involved in identifying and managing the ASF outbreak. The aim of the study was to take a transdisciplinary approach in exploring the experiences of the hunters, specifically focusing on their motivation for engaging in the outbreak management. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study gives important insights that can be utilized in case of future outbreaks among wildlife: engaging the hunters appears to be facilitated by their local connectivity, involving commitment to the hunting grounds and to their local society. In addition, local knowledge about the land and wildlife seems to have facilitated effective carcass searching and culling. It is, therefore, of importance for authorities to establish relationships with local hunters and to acknowledge the hunters' pivotal position in managing an outbreak. Our study shows that it is essential for the hunters to feel that they are not governed in detail, but that they have some flexibility to take decisions based on their specific local knowledge. Further, our results show that it is important to acknowledge the social aspects of searching and culling work in order to engage hunters. These kinds of social activities is a prerequisite for effective management.