African Swine Fever Threatens Asia's Endemic Wild Pigs with Extinction
A new study warns that African Swine Fever is threatening Asia's 12 endemic wild pig species with extinction. Scientists have proposed a roadmap for governments to mitigate the virus's impact on biodiversity, food security, and local ecosystems.
Why it matters
The loss of these species could destabilize tropical rainforest ecosystems and threaten the food security of Indigenous communities.
BRONX, NY, September 15, 2026 - In a study published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity , 31 scientists have produced the first comprehensive roadmap to prevent African swine fever (ASF) from driving Asia's 12 endemic wild pig species toward extinction, identifying eight priority actions for governments and conservation organizations to protect one of the region's most threatened groups of mammals.
Since ASF emerged in China in late 2018, the virus, which causes extremely high mortality in domestic and wild pigs, has spread across Asia, reaching every country in the region within two years. The losses to the pork industry have been well documented, estimated at $130 - 192 billion. Its toll on wildlife, ecosystems, and local communities has received far less attention.
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