(IN): Captive-bred pygmy hogs to be relocated

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Link: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=may1208/at09

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Captive-bred pygmy hogs to be relocated*

By Our Correspondent

 

GUWAHATI, May 11 – In what is being projected as a landmark event in the

conservation history of the country, a total of 16 pygmy hogs, which is one

of the most endangered mammals in the world, would soon be relocated in the

grasslands of Sonai Rupai wildlife sanctuary. Principal Chief Conservator of

Forest (PCCF, Wildlife) MC Malakar informed this during a press conference

here at the Guwahati Press Club today.

 

The pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) is the world's smallest pig standing about

25-30 cm from the ground, and was once common across India, Nepal and

Bhutan. However, by the 1960s, this mammal was believed to be extinct.

 

" The pygmy hogs were bred at the Guwahati-based Pygmy Hog Conservation

Programme (PHCP) research and breeding centre at Basistha near Guwahati

before being transferred to a specially constructed pre-release facility in

Potasali near the Nameri National Park, " stated Malakar.

 

The PHCP is a collaborative project of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust,

World Conservation Union's Pigs, Peccaries and Hippos Specialist Group

(PPHSG), Assam Forest Department and the Ministry of Environment and

Forests.

 

About 75 pygmy hogs were bred at PHCP from six wild pygmy hogs brought from

Manas National Park in 1996.

 

" Under the soft release procedure, these hogs were maintained in large

'pre-release' enclosures for five months and have now been transferred to

final release enclosure in Sonai Rupai. The new population of the released

hogs would be monitored using direct and indirect methods, " he said.

 

" It is a successful conservation project of pygmy hogs by saving them from

extinction. The Sonai Rupai wildlife sanctuary is already a habitat for

pygmy hogs, and we are happy that the species have been reintroduced there, "

Malakar opined.

 

It needs mention here that until 1977, pygmy hogs were believed to have gone

extinct. But an extensive study conducted by PPHSG chairperson William

Oliver in 1977 confirmed the existence of pygmy hogs in the North-Western

part of Assam.

 

Oliver was instrumental in formulating pygmy hog conservation action plan,

which was accepted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Oliver said, " This is a historic development and

it would set a very good precedent, which can be emulated for other species

as well. "

 

" The practice of indiscriminate dry season annual burning and uncontrolled

livestock grazing threatened the last population of the pygmy hog in Manas

and, if continued, it may affect many other threatened and sensitive

grassland species, " Oliver pointed out.

 

Gautam Narayan of EcoSystems-India, a partner NGO in the conservation

project, was also present on the occasion.

 

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