09 Nov 2024        11:44:53 am

Environmental Ecology

Pygmy hog

Tags : Pygmy hog

Topic: Biodiversity

Why in the news?

• Nine captive-bred pygmy hogs were released in western Assam’s Manas National Park . It was the fifth such exercise by the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) since 2020.

Source: The Hindu 

About Pygmy hog: 

• It is the world’s smallest and rarest wild pig most threatened by extinction.
• It is one of the very few mammals that build its own home, or nest, complete with a ‘roof’.
• It is an indicator species as its presence reflects the health of its primary habitat, tall and wet grasslands.
• It prefers undisturbed patches of grassland dominated by early succession riverine communities, typically comprising dense tall grass intermixed with a wide variety of herbs, shrubs and young trees.
• Its IUCN Red List status is Critically Endangered.
• It is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Manas National Park:

• It is located in the state of Assam. It is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
• It is a national park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve.
• It contains some of the largest remaining grassland habitats in the sub-Himalayan grassland ecosystems.
• It is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog.
• The Manas River, a major tributary of Brahmaputra River, passes through here.

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