Australian scientists use sodium nitrite against wild boars

A method to drastically reduce the wild boar population has been proposed by scientists from the Australian Institute for Animal Disease Control.

To protect farms in the event of outbreaks of African swine fever, the researchers suggest using feed with the addition of sodium nitrite. Boxes with it are placed in the habitats of wild boars. 

The organism of these animals does not produce a sufficient amount of an enzyme that neutralizes the toxic effect of sodium nitrite. Even at a relatively low concentration, it binds blood hemoglobin, which quickly leads to oxygen starvation of the brain. The animal dies quickly and painlessly.

Experiments have shown that in this way it is possible to reduce the number of a group of wild boars by 80-100%. For other animals, sodium nitrite does not pose such a threat as for wild pigs. The need to regulate their numbers is associated not only with the threat of ASF, but also with the annual damage from the destruction of crops, which is estimated at €70 million.