(IN): Endangered pygmy hog ( a letter to the Editor )

May 15, 2009

LETTERS

Endangered pygmy hog**

* Sir, – Forest areas in Assam are continuously declining due to factors

such as human encroachment, illegal timber cutting and erosion which affect

the wild animals directly. One such animal which is continuously losing its

habitat and population is the pygmy hog. The pygmy hog is the smallest and

the rarest wild suid in the world. Today, this species is on the brink of

extinction, as only a few isolated and small population survive in the wild

with a few hundred exist in small grassland pockets of Manas National Park

and an adjacent reserve forest in the Manas tiger reserve. Sixteen

captive-bred pygmy hogs were released in Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary in

May 2008. Listed as critically endangered by IUCN (International Union for

Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), its population size is

estimated to be fewer than 250 mature animals. In 2007, 23 babies were

produced at Basistha. Three groups comprising 16 ( 7 male, 9 female) hogs,

including 10 yearlings, were transferred from Basistha to Potasali

pre-release enclosures in December 2007. They were shifted to a release

enclosure in Sonai Rupai after five months, and were given access to go to

the wild after about two weeks. Unfortunately, the radio telemetry studies

on these hogs could not be done as the radio harness fitted on six of them

caused injuries when they moved rapidly through very dense grass. Community

conservation initiatives and awareness campaign have been started in the

fringe villages of Manas, Nameri and Sonai Rupai as it is almost impossible

to save the species without the cooperation of the local population. The

main threats to survival of pygmy hog are loss and degradation of habitat

due to human settlements, agricultural encroachments, dry-season burning,

livestock grazing, commercial forestry, flood control schemes and hunting

for meat. Captive breeding and later releasing the pygmy hogs in the wild is

the only hope for the species to increase its population. – Yours etc.

Himajyoti Deka, Cotton College, Guwahati.

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