Keynote speakers
PhD Giovanna Massei
Giovanna Massei is the Europe Director of the Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control, based at the University of York (UK) and a senior research scientist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency in York (UK). She received her BsC in Natural Sciences from the University of Florence (Italy) and her PhD in wild boar ecology from the University of Aberdeen (UK). Her research interests focus on ecology and population control of wild boar and feral pigs and on fertility control to manage wildlife and free-roaming livestock. She published two books on the natural history and management of wild boar and circa 150 scientific papers and popular articles on wildlife management and applied ecology.
Title of talk: What we don’t know about wild boar: knowledge gaps and research priorities for an overcrowded world
Authors: Massei G., Rosell C. & other
Abstract: Human-wild boar conflicts are increasing worldwide, in parallel with the ecological and economic impact of this species and with human population growth. In this fast-changing context, we should re-evaluate research priorities and provide evidence-based tools to reduce these conflicts. We also need to reflect on social roles and responsibilities: with the number of hunters declining in most countries, who will control overabundant populations of wild boar and pigs? At which scale? How will we choose the most cost-effective interventions and how will we measure their impact? With growing public antipathy towards culling, do we have alternatives for population control? How can we focus research to fill current knowledge gaps? This talk will highlight current and future needs and suggest research priorities in this field.
PhD Ferran Jori
Ferran Jori is a senior veterinarian with a long-term international experience in the epidemiology and ecology of wildlife borne diseases and related health risks. Currently, a senior investigator at the ASTRE research Unit at CIRAD (Montpellier), involved in research of diseases at the interface between wildlife and livestock in Africa and Europe. Member of IUCN Wild Pig Specialist Group since 2002, he have been actively involved in several international projects related to the health and management of wild Suiforms in Europe, Africa and Latin America, building a solid 15-year experience in African Swine Fever and ecology of wild suids. He has supervised more than 35 post graduate students and is the author or co-author of more than 85 peer reviewed publications.
Title of the talk: African Swine Fever and wild pig reservoirs. A moving target
Authors: Jori, F.
Abstract: In the current situation of global spread of African swine fever (ASFV) and the absence of a vaccine to contain the virus, there is a need to understand the role played by different wild hosts in the epidemiology of the disease. Currently almost all the wild suids in world are exposed to ASF virus in Africa, Europe and Asia. However, all these species play different roles in the epidemiology and ecology of the disease and are affected differently depending on their previous exposure and co-evolution with the virus, the geographical context and the presence or absence of vectors. Moreover, many gaps of information remain regarding the factors of susceptibility, their role in the maintenance of ASF and the potential impact of the virus on the survival of several endangered species. The talk will provide an overview of the species of wild suids exposed to the virus, their susceptibility, their role in the epidemiology and ecology of the disease and the numerous remaining knowledge gaps and research priorities in this field.
PhD Oliver Keuling
Oliver Keuling is a wildlife biologist, working on wild boar for 23 years now. Diploma and doctoral thesis were dealing with behavioral ecology of wild boar, the effects of hunting on behavior and the management conclusions to draw on this. He touched many aspects of wild boar biology and management (behavioral ecology, reproduction, virology and disease monitoring, management, hunting, human dimension…). He was the organization head of the 9th International Symposium on Wild Boar and is a permanent member of later scientific committees. Out of this network several international cooperation did result. Besides wild boar the main fields of work are wildlife management, behavioral ecology, and monitoring of several wildlife species.
Title of the talk: Hunting wild boar: How, why and to which costs?
Authors: Keuling, O.