The animal – found gutted, skinned and with a rope tied to its leg – was discovered in the municipality of Rozprza, central Poland, an area previously free of ASF.
The virus poses no risk to humans but is highly contagious among pigs and its spread can have serious economic consequences for farmers.
Speaking to public broadcaster TVP Info, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Stefan Krajewski said the unusual condition and location of the carcass had raised concerns.
"The boar appeared in the heart of Poland’s pig-breeding region. Skinned, gutted, with a rope on its leg. In a place with no previous ASF cases – so we considered that it may be an attempt at sabotage," he said.
"Whether that is external or internal sabotage, we will know once the investigation is complete."
The agriculture ministry said a decision is expected on Monday, 8 December, on whether to treat the case as a potential act of bioterrorism.
Laboratory tests aimed at determining the animal’s origin are due beforehand.
Officials have issued a series of statements in recent days following the incident.
A spokesperson for the coordinator of Poland’s special services said there was currently no evidence that foreign services were involved.
Krajewski, however, has maintained that sabotage "cannot be excluded" and has warned that all scenarios remain on the table.
The minister added that authorities initially held back from public comment to avoid unnecessary alarm and to consult with the European Commission.
"The services are working. Everything needs to be checked carefully," he said.
"Poaching is one line of inquiry, but I would be cautious about ruling anything out at this stage."
ASF has affected several European countries in recent years, leading to large-scale culls and trade restrictions.
Poland is among Europe’s biggest pork producers, making the integrity of its biosecurity measures a matter of national economic importance.
(ał)
Source: tvp.info