Why In The News?

• Recently, eighteen captive-bred pygmy hogs were released in western Assam’s Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve.

About:

=> Scientific Name: Porcula Salvania.

=>  Genus: It is the rarest species of pig in the world today, and is the only species in the genus Porcula. It is also the smallest species of pig.

=> Description: The skin of the pygmy hog is a grayish-brown color, and its coat consists of blackish-brown bristles.

Habitat and Distribution:

=> Habitat: They live in the wet high grasslands at the foothills of the Himalayas.

=> Distribution: The only known population of pygmy hogs resides in Manas National Park in Assam, India.

=> It is an indicator species. Its presence reflects the health of its primary habitat, the tall, wet grasslands of the region.

Conservation Status:

=> IUCN status: Critically Endangered.

=> It is protected under Schedule I of India’s WildLife (Protection) Act, 1972.

=> It is also listed in CITES Appendix I.

Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP):

• The PHCP is a collaboration among Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust of UK, Assam Forest Department, Wild Pig Specialist Group of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Union Environment Ministry.
• The PHCP target is to reintroduce 60 pygmy hogs in Manas National Park, by 2025.
• It is being implemented by NGOs Aaranyak and EcoSystems India.

Manas National Park:

• It was one of the first tiger reserves under Project Tiger in 1973.
• It was declared as a National park in 1990.
• It is included as a site of international importance under UNESCO’s world heritage convention in 1988 as well as Biosphere Reserve in 1989.
• It is home to the Red Panda, Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog, Hispid Hare and Assam Roofed Top Turtle.
• Manas River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River, passes through it.