New restricted zone: Mainz-Bingen is fighting the swine fever!

New restricted zone: Mainz-Bingen is fighting the swine fever!

Mainz-Bingen, Deutschland - The African swine plague (ASP) spreads and has now also reached the space between Mainz and Bingen. Discoveries of several infected wild boars in the Rheingau-Taunus district and on the Mariannaue on the Rhine have led to a new restricted zone. This extends from the Mainz districts of Gonsenheim, Finthen and Mombach via the Budenheimer Lennebergwald to Schwabenheim, Ingelheim, Gau-Algesheim and to the nature reserve Fulderaue-Ilmenaue in Bingen-Gaulsheim, as reported on the Ingelheim website. In this zone, a leash for dogs and a strict ban on hunting apply. Exceptions for certain game species can only be granted on request to avoid wild damage.

The district of Mainz-Bingen is intensively observing the situation. Dr. Markus Wacker, head of the veterinary office, appeals to the population to adhere to the new guidelines. In particular, walkers in the forest have to stay on the fortified paths so as not to scare the wild boars and thereby risk possible transmissions of the ASP virus. Electrical fences are installed to check the movements of the wild boars and to contain the transmission of the virus. So far, no infected animals have been found in the northern part of the region, but measures have already been taken to prevent this.

restrictions and hunting regulations

In the entire restriction zone, which is officially referred to as "infected zone", it is prohibited to bring pigs into or out: currently around 300 to 400 domestic pigs, which are monitored by the official veterinarians. Near the Rhine, a hotspot for wild boar, the protection zone should be avoided if possible to protect the animal population and avoid evasive movements that the virus could spread, according to Mainz-Bingen. Hunting methods are subject to strict requirements, whereby the assistant hunting with silencer is allowed and the trap hunting can be carried out without restrictions.

The region remains under constant observation: drones and thermal imaging cameras are used to find possible infected wild boar. The authorities ask the hunters to contain the spread of the ASP and combat the virus before spreading further.

Ingelheim reports on the new security measures. More details can be found on the website of Mainz-Bingen.