Pair of endangered Pigmy Hogs released in Assam Zoo

Guwahati (Assam), September 20, 2018:

On Wednesday, a pair of the critically endangered pigmy hogs has been transferred to the Assam State Zoo from the conservation breeding centre at Basistha.

Zoo DFO Tejas Mariswamy said that the pair will kept at the Zoo for display purpose so that people can be educated about how rare these little mammals are.

It may be pigmy hogs are the smallest and the rarest member of pig family. Pygmy hog belongs to a unique monospecific genus with no surviving close relative. It is one of the few mammals in the world that constructs a ‘house’ or nest to live. Unfortunately, the species is at the brink of extinction, as it has been exterminated from most of it original range in India and Nepal. In the past, it was found in a narrow strip of tall and wet grassland plains in the area south of Himalayan foothills from Uttar Pradesh to Assam, through Nepal terai and Bengal duars.

Currently, it is restricted to a single viable population in the wild in Manas Tiger Reserve and three reintroduced populations in Orang National Park, Sonai Rupai and Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuaries, all in north‐western Assam.

The species is categorises as ‘Critically Endangered’ by IUCN and is listed in the Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act.