Assam’s Pygmy Hog Makes a Remarkable Comeback: From 6 to 194
Assam has recorded a remarkable conservation success with the population of the endangered pygmy hog rising from just six to 194 over the decades.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the achievement in a post on X, describing it as a story of “conservation, patience and decades of dedicated effort.” He also set an ambitious target of increasing the population to 300 by 2040.
The pygmy hog, one of the world’s smallest and rarest wild pig species, was once on the brink of extinction. Its conservation and breeding programme began with six animals collected from Manas National Park.
The species is native to the grasslands of the Himalayan foothills, with Assam playing a key role in its conservation and population recovery.
The rise to 194 animals marks a major milestone for wildlife conservation in the state. Protecting and restoring Assam’s grassland habitats will remain crucial for the pygmy hog and several other threatened species.
