Fifty to sixty people gathered at the Nurme pig farm on Friday evening. They protested against the slaughter of pigs suspected of swine fever.
The Director General of the Agricultural and Food Board, Raimo Heinam, and the owner of the pig farm, Mati Tuvi, had previously asked people not to gather at the farm. Heinam said that the slaughter of pigs is necessary to protect Estonian pig farming and the food industry. The virus threat cannot be stopped in any other way.
Mati Tuvi said that the company is cooperating with the board. He asked people not to hinder disease control. The farm had previously proposed the possibility of extending the quarantine by two weeks, but European Union laws do not allow it.
Protesters want to stay there all night. Kristi Metsa from the Estonian Animal Protection League said they want to save the pigs from unjust slaughter. Metsa said that the pig, whose samples were positive, is currently healthy. They want to wait for the results of the Spanish laboratory.
Metsa said that the protest was initiated by social media. The Animal Protection League called for people to come and help. Metsa will stay on site in the evening along with many others. They know that the slaughter of pigs will begin in the morning.