Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on June 9 praised the release of 15 pygmy hogs into the wild at Manas National Park under the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme, calling the move a major step in the state’s wildlife conservation efforts to restore fragile grassland ecosystems and protect an endangered species. The release took place at Manas, one of the region’s key protected areas for pygmy hog recovery.
“A dash to freedom. The release of 15 pygmy hogs into the wild at Manas National Park under the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme marks another milestone in our efforts to restore fragile grassland ecosystems and protect one of the world’s rarest wild pig,” Sarma said in a post on X. The chief minister framed the reintroduction as evidence of Assam’s sustained commitment to biodiversity protection.
The Pygmy Hog, native to Assam’s grasslands, is regarded as the world’s smallest and one of its rarest wild pig species. Conservation programmes have concentrated on captive breeding and carefully planned reintroductions to suitable natural habitats to improve the species’ chances of survival.
Manas National Park has emerged as a focal site for these recovery efforts, where conservationists are simultaneously rebuilding wild pygmy hog populations and restoring the grassland habitats they depend on. Authorities and conservation partners have emphasized scientific wildlife management and habitat restoration as central to the programme.
The release of the 15 hogs adds to Assam’s recent conservation milestones and highlights ongoing work to balance species recovery with ecosystem restoration across the state’s protected grasslands.
