Integrated Hunting Strategies for African Swine Fever Control in Wild Boar: A Comparative Review of Experiences in...

African swine fever (ASF) has become one of the most significant transboundary animal diseases affecting countries worldwide. Wild boars play a major role in virus persistence and in local spread through geographical contiguity, while long-distance and transboundary dissemination is more commonly associated with human-mediated activities, particularly the movement of contaminated pork products and materials. Hunting is frequently considered a central tool for disease control; however, its epidemiological impact remains debated. This review comparatively analyses the approaches adopted by countries of European continent affected by ASF, paying particular attention to the role of hunting within integrated management strategies. The review examines country-specific control measures, including surveillance systems, carcass search and removal, fencing, zoning, and population reduction policies. The analysis shows that successful eradication was associated with early detection, temporary suspension of hunting in infected core areas, rapid spatial containment through fencing, and intensive passive surveillance based on systematic carcass removal. Hunting was reintroduced only after containment, as a regulated depopulation tool under strict biosecurity supervision. In contrast, where the virus was already widespread at detection and containment measures were delayed or fragmented, intensified hunting alone did not prevent endemic persistence. These findings indicate that hunting is neither inherently protective nor detrimental; rather, its effectiveness depends on timing, coordination, and integration within a structured epidemiological framework. Effective control requires combining wildlife management with surveillance, biosecurity, and clear governance.