This is a bit out of context but worth mentioning to those whose interest spans other forms of wildlife!
- - - On our way back from Arunachal Pradesh and Kaziranga National Park, Assam we visited the Pygmy Hog Centre in Guwahati, Assam. Goutam Narayan started the conservation breeding programme for Pygmy Hogs, Porcula salvania, in Assam since these are the smallest and rarest wild suid in the world. Today, they are only found in a small population in Manas Tiger Reserve, Assam. With the assistance of the Forest Dept and financial/technical support from Gerald Durell Foundation, Darwin Initiative, ECO Systems India, etc., Goutam Narayan and his team have successfully bred Pygmy Hogs in captivity. The conservation centre has several open enclosures, all inter-connected with natural vegetation and soil rich in worms, beetles, roots, etc. We were able to see these tiny adults and some of the young digging/burrowing with their noses, as well as 'nests' made of dried grasses. The enclosures are covered on top with wire mesh and the bars have an electric current running through them to prevent ingress of leopards and birds of prey. In the centre of the enclosures are the breeding cells which are covered and accessed by few humans (gloves, feet pre-soaked in potassium permanganate). Visitors in this area are usually shunned, which is a good thing. Only very recently, the Pygmy Hog genus was reverted to Porcula from the Sus genus since DNA studies found it different in several aspects from wild boar genus. What is interesting to learn is that although these Pygmy Hogs are small it takes 2 adults to hold them as they can wriggle out since their bodies are bullet-shaped bodies with almost no neck. They are very tough and in the wild they move extremely fast, the only thing that one can see is the top of the grasses moving indicating their presence. The trained keepers have a very tough time catching them in the small enclosures. We also saw a pre-release area behind Eco-Camp Tourist Lodges in Nameri National Park. This is a huge enclosure and adults are re-located here for acclimatisation prior releasing them in their original habitats. So do visit this Centre located outside Guwahati (on route to the airport) and get a first-hand idea of breeding programmes our own Indian researchers are doing. You would be surprised to know a lot of viable ideas sprang from this centre and are currently being implemented in other similar programmes in the world. If you plan a visit you may email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The world lost the Dodo forever. India shouldn't lose her Pygmy Hogs! Cheers, Kiran Srivastava Mumbai [EMAIL PROTECTED] --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Enjoy -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
