Pygmy hog among other grassland species sighted in Manas

Pygmy hogs, Hispid hare pellets, hog deer, swamp deer and Bengal Florican were sighted in adequate numbers during a survey of grassland species at the Manas Tiger Reserve.
"The specific targets of this collaborative survey was the highly endangered Pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) and Hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus) for which Manas is known as the last remaining wild habitat in the world," said Anindya Swagowary, Manas Tiger Reserve Field Director today.
A total of 20 nests of Pygmy hog were detected from three separate locations, Hispid hare pellets were found almost on all camp site locations while direct evidence was also obtained for other grassland obligate species such as hog deer (Hyelaphus porcinus), swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii), and Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis).

Swargowary said the preliminary results obtained especially for Pygmy hog, which were thought to be declining in number at the Park, was very heartening as it indicates that Manas was back on track as one of the last stronghold for these endangered species in the wild.
Manas Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Dr Sonali Ghosh who was part of the survey team said a detailed report would be submitted to the government very soon which would include recommendations for making the population estimation an annual feature using non-invasive methods.
The survey, conducted from March 18 to 22, was led by the forest department and included individual grassland experts such as Dr Bibhuti Lahkar from Aaranyak, Dr Gitanjali Banerji from Zoological Society of London, and Dr Kaushik Deuti from Zoological Survey of India and several researchers and PhD students currently working in Manas.