Eight captive-bred pygmy hogs (Porcula salvania) were released on June 22 in the Manas National Park of western Assam.
- Pygmy hogs are the world’s rarest and smallest wild pigs.
- This is the second batch to have been reintroduced into the wild under the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) in a year.
About Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP)
- PHCP is a collaboration among Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust of UK, Assam Forest Department, Wild Pig Specialist Group of IUCN and Union Environment Ministry.
- Six pygmy hogs — two males and four females — were captured from the Bansbari range of the Manas National Park in 1996 for starting the breeding programme.
- The reintroduction programme began in 2008 with the Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary (35 hogs), Orang National Park (59) and Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary (22).
(Source: The Hindu)
