HELSINKI, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- A nationwide hunt for wild boars was arranged in Finland over the weekend, it was reported Monday, with the aim of reducing the risk of African swine fever reaching Finland and to reduce the damage the animals cause to arable areas.

Wild boars entered Finland via the land border with Russia by the early 1970s. The current stock is estimated to be around three thousand animals.

Twenty-five hunting associations took part in the national campaign over the weekend, but they have so far reported only seven killings.

Vesa Rusila, head of the wild animal section of the Ministry of Agriculture, noted in a ministry statement that wild boars are "intelligent animals and they try to avoid contact with people" and "training the hunters is now key."

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Jaana Husu-Kallio said the African swine pest is the main reason for the current official effort in Finland to reduce the wild boar stock. She thanked the hunters for their efforts.

The swine pest has not been observed in Finland. However, experts have said the disease could spread to Finland either through animal contacts via the land border with Russia, or "reach pork farms on the shoes of agricultural workers".

Any entry of the disease in Finland would cause huge economic loss to pork farms and the meat industry, which have been renowned for its cleanness so far.

Besides encouraging hunting, Finnish authorities launched late last year a campaign in Finnish ports, urging cruise passengers not to bring any wild boar meat or food made of wild boar to Finland.

Wild boars can be hunted year round in Finland. However, the female animals are protected from March till July.

Wild boars can be dangerous to humans, if hurt. Drivers have been told an injured wild boar is comparable to a bear and a human is unlikely to be able to run away if pursued by a wild boar. In the event of a collision, drivers have been told to remain in their cars and call the police, and not to try to approach the animals.

Hunting is a popular pastime in Finland and hunters can get licenses for purchasing long pipe weapons. Based on 2016 police statistics, there were 1.3 million civilian weapons suitable for hunting in Finland.