"Assam's Pygmy Hog Captive Breeding Programme Marks Conservation Milestone"
Pygmy hog (Porcula salvania)
World's smallest wild pig; sole surviving species of genus Porcula; Endangered; native to Assam's floodplains.
Captive breeding
Controlled reproduction of wild animals in captivity to prevent extinction and build insurance populations.
The pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) is the world's smallest wild pig and the sole surviving species of the genus Porcula. It is native to the tall alluvial grasslands of the Himalayan foothills, historically distributed across parts of Assam, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. Today, its last surviving natural population is confined to the Manas National Park area in Assam, specifically the Panbari grasslands. The species is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Several other animals share this threatened floodplain habitat: the Bengal florican, the hispid hare, the hog deer, and the greater one-horned rhinoceros, all of which benefit when pygmy hog habitat is protected. Other well-known endangered Indian species tested in similar contexts include the Great Indian Bustard, swamp deer (barasingha), and gharial, each tied to specific threatened ecosystems.
Among animals sometimes confused in range-identification questions: the star tortoise and monitor lizard are both native to India, as is the pygmy hog. The spider monkey, by contrast, is native to Central and South America and is not found in India. This distinction matters because UPSC has directly tested which of these four species are naturally found in India.
The pygmy hog was believed to be extinct by the mid-20th century. Floodplains were converted for farms, tea plantations, and flood-control infrastructure. Invasive plants spread. Altered flood cycles changed grassland composition. Unscientific burning of grasslands further fragmented habitats. A small group of individuals was rediscovered in 1971. This prompted early conservation interest, but the structured effort began with the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) in 1995, supported by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Assam government.
The Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme operates as a captive breeding and reintroduction initiative. Starting from a small founder stock, conservationists have bred pygmy hogs in captivity while managing two critical risks: disease and inbreeding. Suids (members of the pig family) are highly susceptible to swine diseases, so strict biosafety protocols are essential. Inbreeding in small populations reduces genetic diversity and accumulates harmful gene variants, threatening long-term evolutionary fitness. To manage this, conservationists track detailed pedigree records for every individual. Before release into the wild, captive-bred animals are conditioned to survive in natural grassland conditions.
The programme has achieved a 32-fold increase in the pygmy hog population in Assam over three decades. …
Consider the following:
1.Star tortoise
2.Monitor lizard
3.Pygmy hog
4.Spider monkey
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?
Consider the following fauna of India:
1.Gharial
2.Leatherback turtle
3.Swamp deer
Which of the above is/are endangered?
Consider the following animals:
1.Star tortoise
2.Monitor lizard
3.Pygmy hog
4.Spider monkey
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
Consider the following statements regarding the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP):
1.The pygmy hog is the sole surviving species of the genus Porcula.
2.The last surviving natural population of the pygmy hog is found in the Kaziranga National Park.
3.The PHCP was launched in 1995 with support from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
4.Suids are highly susceptible to swine diseases, making biosafety a critical component of captive breeding.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Match the following endangered species with their primary natural habitats in India:
1.Pygmy hog — (a) Alluvial floodplain grasslands of Assam
2.Great Indian Bustard — (b) Arid grasslands of Rajasthan
3.Gharial — (c) Chambal and Girwa rivers
4.Lion-tailed Macaque — (d) Western Ghats rainforests
Which of the following matchings are correct?
Consider the following statements about alluvial floodplain grasslands in India:
1.They are among India's most threatened ecosystems, facing pressure from agricultural conversion and invasive plant species.
2.Suppressing all ecological processes such as fire can help restore dense grass cover needed by species like the pygmy hog.
3.The Bengal florican, hispid hare, and greater one-horned rhinoceros all depend on these grassland ecosystems.
4.Altered flood cycles and unscientific burning are among the key drivers of floodplain grassland degradation.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP), consider the following pairs:
Protected Area — State
1.Manas National Park — Assam
2.Orang National Park — Assam
3.Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary — Assam
4.Panbari grasslands — Meghalaya
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
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