Pygmy Hog

News: The population of Pygmy Hog has declined sharply due to habitat loss, grass burning, illegal grazing, and land degradation.

About Pygmy Hog

• The Pygmy Hog is the smallest and rarest wild suid in the world.
• Scientific name: Porcula salvania
• Habitat: Pygmy Hogs prefer undisturbed patches of tall wet grassland mixed with a wide variety of herbs, shrubs and young trees.
• Distribution: It is endemic to Northeast India.
  • At present, they are found only in Assam, mainly in Manas and Orang National Parks.
• Physical Features:
  • Size: They measure about 55–71 cm in length, 25 cm in height, and weights 6.6–9.7 kg.
  • They have small, compact, and streamlined body with small ears and tail.
  • They have grayish-brown skin with blackish-brown bristles.
  • They have short legs and short false hooves, suitable for grassland living.
  • The snout is positioned perpendicular to their head, and they lacks facial warts.
  • They have well-developed teeth, with upturned canines and rounded molars.
• The pygmy hog is one of the very few mammals that build their own home, or nest, complete with a ‘roof’. 
• Nature: They are social animals and live in small family groups.
  • They are diurnal and spend daylight hours foraging.
•  Ecological Role: They are also an indicator species as their presence reflects the health of grassland of the region.
  • They help to disperse seeds and aerate the soil through their dietary and foraging habits.
• Diet: It is an omnivore and feeds on roots, tubers, insects, rodents, and small reptiles.
• Threats
  • Loss and degradation of habitat due to human settlements
  • Agricultural encroachments
  • Flood control schemes
  • Traditional forestry management practices
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Critically Endangered
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I