Pygmy hog

About Pygmy hog: 

• It is the smallest and rarest species of wild pig in the world.
• 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.
• Habitat: 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.
• Currently, the viable population of this pig in the wild is in the Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam.
• Conservation status:
  • IUCN: Critically Endangered
  • The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Key facts about 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.
• Flora: It contains some of the largest remaining grassland habitats in the sub-Himalayan grassland ecosystems.
• Fauna: The Park 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 is a major tributary of Brahmaputra River, which passes through the Manas National Park.

Q1) What  are Indicator species?

Indicator species are organisms that can provide valuable information about the environmental conditions of an ecosystem. They are particularly sensitive to changes in their environment, and their presence, absence, or abundance can be used as an indicator of the overall health and quality of that environment.

Source: 18 rare pygmy hogs reintroduced in their historical home in Assam