190
Part II: Species AccountsStatus in the Wild
S. celebensis are likely to occur in all of the principal national
parks, nature and game reserves in their range, except those
in north-east and south-west Sulawesi. Those where signifi-
cant populations of warty pigs are found include Lore Lindu
(2310 km^2 ), Bogani Nani-Wartabone (2871 km^2 ), Morowali
(2250 km^2 ), Rawa Aopa Watumohai (1051 km^2 ), and many
other smaller conservation areas (Riley 2002; Wiles et al. 2002;
Burton & Macdonald 2006, 2009; A. H. Mustari & I. S. Rejeki,
personal observations).
S. celebensis is categorized as Near Threatened according to
the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Burton & Macdonald
2008). The justification for this listing is because this species is
probably in significant decline (but probably at a rate of less than
30 per cent over 10 years). The reasons for this decline are var-
ied. First, deforestation for timber and conversion of land for
agriculture, coupled with human population expansion and
immigration have resulted in a marked contraction of the natu-
ral habitat of this species. However, this species does survive in
disturbed habitats, so the impact of habitat change is difficult to
determine.
Hunting is likely to be a significant factor impacting on
population numbers of this species. Much information has
been reported on this from north Sulawesi in the past 20 years,
and more recent information is showing both trade from
other regions of Sulawesi to the north is increasing, as well as
local consumption within the other regions of Sulawesi. The
high volume of trade in this species raises concerns about
the sustainability of this current harvesting rate. Completion
of the Trans-Sulawesi Highway (1980) probably increased
consumption of wildlife within and importation into North
Sulawesi from the rest of the island. Data were collected from
market surveys from north-east Sulawesi and road blocks on
the Trans-Sulawesi Highway (Lee et al. 2005). In the study it
was noted that ‘trade in the Sulawesi pig is alarmingly high
for such a large-bodied animal’. They observed an average of
~8 individuals per hour during road blockades (29.6 per cent
of 6963 wild animals recorded). Warty pigs also accounted
for 7 per cent of all market encounters. Local consumption
is also occurring in other regions of Sulawesi. For example,
in south-east Sulawesi in an area neighbouring the north-
ern part of Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park, one to
two pigs were caught daily for local consumption and trans-
ported from the forest by motorcycle (I. S. Rejeki, personal
communication).
What may be more alarming for the future of this species is
the discovery that commercial hunting now encompasses the
whole region. For example, 250 pigs found in a single truck were
being transported from Buton Island (1270 km away), in south-
east Sulawesi (Lee et al. 2005). In a different area of south-east
Sulawesi, called Kasipute Bombana, transportation of 100–150
individual occurs every two months to the north, and this can
increase to 100–250 individuals being transported per month
during peak hunting months (I. S. Rejeki, personal commu-
nication). Of the total number of pigs recorded during roadblockades in north-east Sulawesi, 36.8 per cent were reported to
have come from central Sulawesi and 11.4 per cent from south-
east Sulawesi (Lee et al. 2005). A model was used to predict the
effect of hunting levels and the cost-effectiveness of this trade for
Sulawesi pigs in the northern peninsula of Sulawesi. The likely
outcome of trade in the warty pig is that the population will
stabilize at around 37 per cent of the unexploited size (Clayton
et al. 2000). It remains unclear if these small, isolated popula-
tions will be of sufficient size to maintain their genetic viability
in the long term.
The motivation for eating wild pig meat may be quite varied
between regions of Sulawesi. In north Sulawesi, the Minahasa
people consider wild pig meat to be superior to domestic pork,
and are willing to pay 20–50 per cent more for it. Whereas, in
Toraja South Sulawesi, domesticated pig meat is preferred to wild
meat, although they eat the wild pig. Demand for wild pig meat
varies through the year in north Sulawesi. Usually the demand
for the species will increase at the time of ceremonies, which are
usually from July to October, and also around Christmas and
New Year (I. S. Rejeki, personal communication).
Killing S. celebensis is also reported to reduce the damage
that this species causes to crops. They destroy newly planted
perennial crops (including cocoa, coffee, coconut, and cashew
seedlings) as well as food crops (I. S. Rejeki, personal commu-
nication). To avoid the species from entering farms, farmers use
stone walls and live fences constructed with gamal (Gliricidia
sepium), as well as trapping or hunting this species.
Within protected areas the species is technically protected
by law, though it was certainly hunted in some of these areas
(Setyodiwiryo 1959; Smiet 1982; Blouch 1990; J. Burton, per-
sonal observation). Reports have increased our knowledge on
the distribution and numbers of S. celebensis on Sulawesi and
neighbouring islands (Avalard 2000; Riley 2002). This has
shown that pig densities have declined in areas of high hunt-
ing pressure such as Lore Lindu, Bogani Nani-Wartabone (Riley
2002), Rawa Aopa Watumohai, Bantimurung Bulusaraung
National Parks, and conservation areas in the northern tip of
Sulawesi (I. S. Rejeki, personal communication).
Another potential threat to S. celebensis is genetic contami-
nation through breeding with feral or domesticated S. scrofa.
The latter species is kept for protein production in some com-
munities in different parts of Sulawesi. There is no significant
predator of this species, although it is possible that young
individuals may be taken by the python (Python reticulates)
or crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) (A. H. Mustari, personal
communication).Status in Captivity
The species has rarely been kept in captivity and pure-bred ani-
mals have never been successfully bred in zoos. In Singapore
Zoo, over 10 years ago, a pair was bred, but it was found that
only the male of the pair was pure S. celebensis. Various domestic
traits were observed in the offspring, including piebald mark-
ings and curled tails. At present there are no other individuals in
zoological collections..02112:41:38