ASF fence planned in Lower Oder Valley National Park

Following criticism of the route of the fence intended to combat African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Lower Oder Valley National Park, the fixed fence there is to be partially relocated, as announced.

By relocating the fence, the responsible authorities are responding to the discovery of injured and dead wild animals along the ASF fence following the Oder flooding at the beginning of the year. The western fence of the protective corridor along the border with Poland will now be shifted westward across most of Polder A. This will give wild animals sufficient space to retreat from the floodplain areas that are regularly affected by flooding. The reconstruction work will begin immediately.

Anna Heyer-Stuffer: „The images of dead wild animals along the ASF fence have affected us all deeply. I am convinced that with the solution we have now found, we have achieved a good compromise between animal and nature conservation, flood protection, and the fight against African Swine Fever. I thank everyone involved for their swift and constructive cooperation. However, I have no understanding for the wilful destruction of the fences. That is a misguided notion of animal welfare. The successes in the fight against the highly dangerous ASF must not be jeopardised. They also serve the welfare of both wild and domestic pigs.“

Anja Boudon: „We agree that unnecessary animal suffering along the ASF fence must be avoided now and in the future. Taking into account the necessary disease control measures as well as the legally established protection of nature, animals and flood defences, we have found a compromise regarding the planned fence route in the Lower Oder Valley National Park, and are creating alternative areas for the animals. The fence reconstruction must begin now, so that the measures take effect before the spring flooding. Habitats Directive (FFH) assessments must be carried out in and around Natura 2000 sites in connection with the construction of ASF fences.“

Karina Dörk: „For months we have been consistently implementing the necessary steps to combat ASF in the Uckermark district. After images of dead roe deer became known at the start of the year, we quickly took remedial action with immediate measures. The first images show that these measures are demonstrably working. By relocating the fence, we are creating a solution that takes into account both disease control and animal welfare concerns. We can see that ASF from western Poland is currently demonstrably moving northwards from fresh ASF findings in the area of the national park as well."

Immediate measures taken by the district are showing effect

At the beginning of the year, an increased number of injured and dead wild animals were found at the ASF fence in the Lower Oder Valley National Park. Evidently, due to flooding, the animals were unable to jump over the 1.20-metre-high fence as they usually would. The Uckermark district responded immediately to the situation with emergency measures such as temporarily opening gates, lowering sections of the fence to 80 centimetres, creating roe deer passages, and building small-animal ramps. The evaluation of these measures shows initial success, with wildlife cameras capturing footage of roe deer using the openings. The now agreed fence conversion is intended to further improve the situation for wild animals while giving even greater consideration to the concerns of the national park.

Solid fences are the most important measure in the fight against the highly dangerous African swine fever. Brandenburg, along with Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, is currently the bulwark against an unchecked spread of African swine fever towards the west.

African swine fever is a contagious general disease affecting pigs (domestic and wild boar) that is almost always fatal and incurable. There is no way to protect pigs through preventive vaccination. The disease can be transmitted directly from animal to animal or indirectly via contaminated objects (clothing, shoes, vehicles) and feed to other areas by humans. ASF is neither contagious nor dangerous to humans or other animal species.