Fourteen captive-bred pygmy hogs were released in the jungles of Manas National Park during the lockdown. These were released in the Bhuyanapara range of Manas National Park, bordering Bhutan between May 14 and 17, 2020.
- With this, the number of pygmy hogs reintroduced into the wild has reached 130 (62 males, 68 females), which is more than their current original global wild population.
- The original stock of the critically endangered pigs was captured from Manas 24 years ago for conservation breeding.
- Pygmy hogs (Porcula salvania) are world’s smallest and rarest pig species in the wild.
- Critically Endangered (As per IUCN) pygmy hog is an indicator species for the health of tall wet grassland habitat across the southern foothills of the Himalayas.
- The captive breeding project of PHCP began using six wild hogs captured from the last surviving population of the species in Manas in 1996.
- Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme is a collaborative project involving Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, IUCN/SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group, Assam forest department, Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change, Government of India, EcoSystems-India and Aaranyak.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
