Chapter 14: Visayan warty pig Sus cebifrons (Heude, 1888)155
Figure 14.5 Sus cebifrons subspecies
from Panay, Miami (photo by R. Wirth).
(A black and white version of this figure
will appear in some formats. For the
colour version, please refer to the plate
section.)In mid-2016, the North American population (S. cebifrons)
consisted of 34 males and 41 females in 18 institutions (source:
EAZA 2015). At the end of 2015 the European population of
the subspecies S. cebifrons negrinus constituted 144 specimens
in 30 institutions. These pigs reproduce very well in captivity
and are not very demanding in terms of husbandry (source:
EAZA 2015).
Several zoos and institutions have been involved in the
Visayan Warty Pigs Conservation programme in the Philippines
(for example, Berlin Zoo, Bristol Zoo, Chester Zoo, Decin Zoo,
Los Angeles Zoo, Prague Zoo, Rotterdam Zoo), providing
financial and professional assistance for the threatened species
rescue and breeding centres established on Panay (CENTROP)
and Negros (Mari-it and NFEFI-BCC; source: http://pbcfi.org
.ph; Lastimoza 2006). These facilities have been effectively car-
rying out this task, giving the opportunity to study the breeding
behaviour of Visayan warty pigs in a safe environment, as little is
known about these pigs in the wild.
Both Mari-it and NFEFI-BCC have been successful with
the breeding of this species, maintaining genetically diverse
populations with several recent births by wild-born parents.
Their main task is maintaining genetically diverse populations
and ensuring the availability of pure-bred founders for future
reintroduction projects. The successful breeding, with numerous
recent births by wild-born parents, makes this pig a candidate for
reintroduction in several areas of Negros and Cebu Islands.
The largest captive colony in the Philippines is presently
held at the Talarak Foundation on Negros. Talarak Rescue and
Conservation Breeding Center was established in 2008. The
centre has been successful in breeding many endangered spe-
cies including the Critically Endangered Visayan warty pig
(R. Wirth, personal communication; http://www.talarak.cz/en/news/
czech-republic-sponsors-environment-protection-on-negros).Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Roland Wirth for the information on Visayan
warty pig breeding centres and for the beautiful images. We are
also in debt to Craig Miller for the useful information on the
breeding centres in the USA.References
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