India! The country with amazing diversity and wonders has many champions. All these are real facts and real records. Most of them are certified by authentic record books like Guiness Book of Records & Limca Book of Records. I am trying to tabulate as many as I can. Please help me in my efforts by adding more facts and records.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

WORLD'S SMALLEST PIG



The pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) is the world’s smallest wild pig standing about 25-30 cm from the ground, and was once common across India, Nepal and Bhutan. However, by the 1960s, this mammal was believed to be extinct.
This pig was previously spread across India, Nepal, and Bhutan but now found only in Assam, India. The current world population is about 150 individuals or fewer. Recent conservation measures have increased the prospect of survival in the wild of this critically endangered species.
A total of 16 pygmy hogs, which is one of the most endangered mammals in the world, would soon be relocated in the grasslands of Sonai Rupai wildlife sanctuary.

The pygmy hogs were bred at the Guwahati-based Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) research and breeding centre at Basistha near Guwahati, Assam before being transferred to a specially constructed pre-release facility in Potasali near the Nameri National Park.
The PHCP is a collaborative project of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, World Conservation Union’s Pigs, Peccaries and Hippos Specialist Group (PPHSG), Assam Forest Department and the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
About 75 pygmy hogs were bred at PHCP from six wild pygmy hogs brought from Manas National Park in 1996.

2 comments:

Sue said...

I would like to start breeding them. If this is possible, please send information to banjobighorse@yahoo.com. I have farmland and resources in Florida.

Rajib said...

Hi Sue, At this moment, I don't think it is possible to acquire the Pygmy Hogs. But when their numbers increase substantially, you may acquire some for breeding. You can contact Assam Forest Department and the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Rajib

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