Assam: Nine pygmy hogs released back in Manas National Park

Guwahati: Nine pygmy hogs, the world's smallest and rarest wild pig species, were released in Manas National Park, Assam on Tuesday by the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP).

This marks the fifth release of pygmy hogs into the park since 2020, bringing the total number reintroduced to Kanchnabari Grassland to 27.

"The effort for reintroduction and restoring the endangered Pygmy Hog in Manas National Park under the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme is commendable," said R. P. Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and Head of the Forest Force (HoFF), Assam.

"I wish the population of the pygmy hog stabilizes in this landscape making Manas more vibrant in its species richness," he said.

This release is a significant step towards recovering the pygmy hog population. Camera trap studies at the 2023 release site revealed hogs exploring and breeding in the area, with the first-ever capture of a pregnant female pygmy hog on camera.

The PHCP, a collaboration between the Assam Forest department, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, IUCN/SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ecosystems-India, and Aaranyak, was established in 1996 after the pygmy hog was presumed extinct in the 1970s.

Through dedicated breeding and reintroduction efforts, the PHCP has successfully reintroduced a total of 179 pygmy hogs in Assam.

This number may now surpass the current global wild population, offering a glimmer of hope for the species' future, Aaranyak said in a statement.