Environment & Ecology

Durrell Trust Releases 15 Pygmy Hogs in Assam's Manas National Park

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Sunday, 5 July 2026 2 min readSource: BBC NewsArticle 7 of 17

Jersey's Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has released 15 pygmy hogs, the world's smallest and rarest pigs, in India. The trust has been working in the Kuribeel grasslands of Manas National Park in Assam. In 1996, six pygmy hogs were taken from the grasslands to set up a captive breeding programme to safeguard the species from extinction. The trust said the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme was set up to protect the pigs, which were once thought extinct and rediscovered in 1971. It said it had successfully bred and released 194 hogs in total, and over the next five years hopes to release about 80, aiming to rebuild a thriving wild population of 300 by 2040. Dr Parag Jyoti Deka, director of the programme, said it would continue strengthening post-release monitoring, including radio-telemetry tracking.

Key Facts & Details

8 points

1
Jersey's Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust released 15 pygmy hogs, the world's smallest wild pigs, in India.
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The release took place in the Kuribeel grasslands of Manas National Park, Assam.
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In 1996, six pygmy hogs were taken to set up a captive breeding programme; the species was rediscovered in 1971.
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The trust has bred and released 194 hogs and aims for a wild population of 300 by 2040.
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Dr Parag Jyoti Deka, programme director, said post-release monitoring includes camera-trap, sign surveys and radio-telemetry tracking.

Deep Dive

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The trust worked for eight years to restore the grassland, where no wild population had been seen for about a decade.
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Chief executive Rebecca Brewer said the initiative had 'saved the pygmy hog from extinction' and helped the wild population grow.
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Assam's chief wildlife warden Dr Vinay Gupta called the reintroduction a remarkable conservation achievement vital for restoring grassland ecosystems.

Exam Focus

Examiners may ask the species (pygmy hog), the site (Manas National Park, Assam), or the trust involved (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust).

Exam Relevance & Angle

Species conservation and protected areas are core environment topics. The precise hooks are the pygmy hog (world's smallest wild pig), its reintroduction in Manas National Park, Assam, by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and the target of 300 wild hogs by 2040.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POSSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

The pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) is the world's smallest wild pig and is critically endangered, surviving mainly in the grasslands of Assam. Manas National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, tiger reserve and biosphere reserve in Assam known for its tall grasslands and rich biodiversity. Captive breeding and reintroduction programmes breed endangered animals in controlled conditions and release them into restored natural habitats to rebuild wild populations. Grassland restoration is essential for species like the pygmy hog whose survival depends on specific habitat conditions.