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Hundreds of Tractors Snarl Catalonia’s C-25 as Farmers Press for Tougher Animal-Health and Wildlife Controls

The Unió de Pagesos mobilization follows African swine fever detections in wild boar near Barcelona.

Overview

  • Around 300–400 tractors executed a slow march that blocked stretches of the C-25 and C-17, with traffic authorities reporting ongoing disruptions near Gurb and other points.
  • Protesters demanded an immediate suspension of bovine imports from France for insufficient sanitary guarantees and an audit of the regional veterinary prevention service.
  • Farmers called for cancellation of farm emptying protocols without prior independent valuations, along with compensation for lost productive periods tied to outbreak restrictions.
  • The mobilization linked wild boar, roe deer, and deer overpopulation to disease spread and pressed for urgent population-control measures, exceptional hunting permissions, and a modern game-management law.
  • Agriculture minister Òscar Ordeig pledged more resources, intensified captures with weekly reporting, and a goal to halve wild boar overpopulation, while UP plans political meetings in January.