PYGMY HOG | Reintroducing one of world's most endangered mammals back into the wild

Posted by admin on Sep 15, 2010

Pygmy Hog – Critically Endangered

Pygmy Hog is a critically endangered species. It is on the IUCN Red List Category CR-C2a(ii), Schedule I – Wildlife (Protection) Act. Current viable wild population only in Manas Tiger Reserve, Assam, India. Its numbers are in lower hundreds. No sighting since 1992 in Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary from where the species was rediscovered in 1971.

Posted by admin on Sep 15, 2010

How ‘pygmy’ are Pygmy Hogs?

Adult hogs are only about 25 cm (10”) high and 60 cm (23”) long. Adult males weigh 8 to 9 kg and females are about 7 kg. Newborn babies are barely 150 g. Compared to the wild pig (Susscrofa), the pygmy hog is about 10 to 15 times smaller in bulk.

Posted by admin on Sep 15, 2010

Conservation Breeding and Reintroduction

Captive breeding was started with 6 founders (2.4) caught from the last wild population in Manas in 1996. Captive population multiplies 12 times in five years, and is being managed to provide healthy animals for reintroduction. In 2008 35 (18 males,17 females) pygmy hogs were released in Sonai Rupai sanctuary.16 in 2008, 9 in 2009, and 10 in May 2010.

Posted by admin on Sep 15, 2010

Pygmy Hog Recovery Programme

The Pygmy Hog recovery programmes aims to reduce population decline and promote recovery of the species. The programmes long term goal is to ensure survival of pygmy hog into perpetuity. The short term goal is to establish at least three wild and captive populations each.

Posted by admin on Sep 15, 2010

Threats to Pygmy Hog

The Pygmy hog face threat of extinction because of variety of reasons. Primary reason is habitat destruction and degradation due to encroachment of habitat for agriculture and settlements. Grass burning, livestock grazing, grass for thatch and fuelwood. There is also certain amount of hunting and trapping.