Increase in the captive population of pygmy hogs Sus salvanius:: Health problems and husbandry

The pygmy hog Sus salvanius is considered one of the world's most endangered mammals, A conservation recovery programme was initiated in 1995 under an international agreement between the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the IUCN/SSC Pigs, Peccaries and Hippos Specialist Group, the Forest Department of the Government of Assam, and the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Government of India. The captive breeding project of the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme began with six wild-caught hogs in 1996, and within two and a half years the population at the Basistha Research and Breeding Centre had increased to 51 animals. Intensive management of the captive animals based both on previously established techniques and locally devised methods is believed to be responsible for this 850% increase. Although 78% of all the young born in captivity were successfully reared, various infectious diseases resulted in the loss of 13 adult and subadult hogs. Salmonellosis combined with mucormycosis, and other bacterial infections such as acute pulmonary infections, were the main causes. Measures undertaken to treat and counteract these problems, and the development of husbandry protocols intended to improve the hygiene and general health of the captive hogs, are described.