Ecology, Conservation and Management of Wild Pigs and Peccaries

Part III: Conservation and Management

292

Porcula? We currently do not have answers to these questions,

but it is clear that placing the conservation of P. salvania within

an evolutionary perspective more broadly informs our views on

extinction threats.

To deepen our understanding of the natural history of

pygmy hogs, we here assess what exactly constituted the his-

toric range of pygmy hogs. The rumoured presence of the spe-

cies in Nepal, for example, was never clearly proven (Oliver

2006). Similarly, it is uncertain whether the species ever existed

in Bhutan, even though, again, its presence there has been

suggested by several authors (Oliver 1980). We also assess the

habitat needs of the species, creating a habitat suitability model

using existing presence points to help us identify suitable areas

of pygmy hog survival. A better understanding of the historic

range of the species helps inform its present-day ecological

needs. This would also result in a better understanding of the

evolutionary forces that restricted the critically endangered

species to its current narrow distribution range, thus informing

its conservation.

Knowledge of Former Range Prior

to This Study

According to Hodgson (1847), the pygmy hog was thought to

occur across the Terai range, an extensive area of tall, alluvial

grasslands in the foothills of the Himalayas from North Western

Uttar Pradesh and Southern Nepal to Assam (Figure 27.3).

Hodgson (1847) also states the possibility of the former habitat

extending at intervals into the contiguous habitat in Southern

Bhutan, which shares a protected area with Manas National

Park in Assam as the Royal Manas National Park (Figure 27.3).

The species is most certainly extinct over most of its known

range in the Terai and Duars region (Oliver & Santos 1991).

According to the most recent checklist of the mammals of Nepal

(Thapa 2014), the pygmy hog is confirmed to be extinct in the

country. Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park, and

Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal were surveyed by Oliver

(1985), but evidence for pygmy hog was not confirmed. A three-

month survey in the reserve forests and the wildlife sanctuaries

in Bihar, West Bengal, and South West Nepal in 1984 were also

unsuccessful (Oliver 1984; Bell et al. 1990; Bell & Oliver 1991).

In December, 1989 some dome-shaped nests made up of grass

and other vegetation were observed in the savanna grasslands of

Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal, which was sus-

pected to be that of pygmy hogs, having been reported for the

first time from the protected area (Sanyal 1995). However, no

further records are available from Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary.

There has been no mention of the species from Bhutan to date.

Records are scarce because the species was seldom observed in

the wild state on account of the inaccessibility of its habitat, to

which these animals are extremely adapted by virtue of their

diminutive body size, cryptic nature, and quick movement

(Oliver et al. 1993).

Methods

Mapping Historic Presence Records

To gain a better understanding of the historical distribution of

pygmy hogs, which was sparse, we studied the historic zoologi-

cal literature, field notes by specimen collectors, and accounts

from hunters. This was carried out by searching for books and

articles from online databases such as the Biodiversity Heritage

Library (http://biodiversitylibrary.org/) and the Internet Archive

(https://archive.org/index.php). In addition, we contacted mam-

mal curators in 50 natural history museums through email and

personal visits, requesting information or records of pygmy hog

specimens and location data in their collections. Emails were also

Figure 27.2 Porcula salvania in

Potasali breeding centre (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.)

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