244
Part II: Species AccountsWhile serious concerns have been expressed about the fate of
the last surviving natural population, it has also been accepted
by many that unless the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme
had initiated conservation efforts in the 1990s through cap-
tive breeding and reintroduction there could have been greater
chances of the species disappearing faster.
The Programme has maintained the only captive population
of the species for about 20 years and plans to initiate breeding
loans to other institutions. As a first step, three captive hogs have
been shifted to Assam State Zoo and hopefully through them it
will reach other institutions with demonstrated competence in
the conservation breeding of endangered species.
Although efforts are being taken to identify potential rein-
troduction sites in the past distribution range of the species in
Assam and areas west of the state, the future success of any such
efforts will depend on the grassland habitat management prac-
tices, prevailing security situation, and financial sustainability
of such conservation efforts.Status in Captivity
As mentioned above, all but three captive pygmy hogs are at the
two conservation breeding centres of the PHCP. Currently (end
July 2016), the total captive population of the species stands
at 85 (47 males and 38 females or 47:38) including the three
(1 male (m), 2 female (f )) shifted from PHCP stock to Assam
State Zoological and Botanical Gardens in November 2014. The
PHCP Basistha centre in Guwahati holds 42 (25 m, 17 f ) hogs,
including 29 (18 m, 11 f ) adult and 13 (7 m, 6 f ) young hogs. The
PHCP Potasali centre at Nameri has 40 (21 m, 19 f ) hogs, includ-
ing 25 (12 m, 13 f ) adult and 15 (9 m, 6 f ) young hogs. Apart from
the above animals, no other pygmy hog is known to survive in
captivity anywhere in the world.Acknowledgements
This chapter is dedicated to the memory of William L. R. Oliver,
who remains the single most important person in the efforts to
save the pygmy hogs from extinction.
We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the organizations
and individuals who have given significant contributions to the
project, and these include the European Commission; Darwin
Initiative UK; Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund; US Fish
& Wildlife Service; IUCN Save Our Species; ZGAP Germany;
Peoples Trust for Endangered Species; Disney Conservation
Fund; Assam Valley Wildlife Society; Mr Jo Mayo, USA; and
Jayem & Clarkson Trust, Jersey.
The authors also wish to thank the original collaborators
of the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme, specifically the
officers and staff of the Forest Department of the Government of
Assam, members and chair of the IUCN-SSC Wild Pig Specialist
Group and colleagues at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust,
as well as EcoSystems-India. Without the help of the manage-
ment, frontline staff, including the mahouts and hard-working
casual workers of Manas Tiger Reserve, RG Orang National
Park, Sonai Rupai and Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Nameri
Tiger Reserve, the project could not have succeeded. Special
mention must be made for the faculty members and students
of the College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati, for extending
their help at all odd hours and days. Several local, national and
international conservation and research organizations provided
useful advice and assistance, and among them Chester Zoo, a
collaborator in the Assam Haathi Project, deserves mention for
contributions to community conservation work around Manas.
Finally, we are grateful to R. Wirth for the nice pictures for
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