Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed on Saturday, September 12, that the state's endangered pygmy hog population climbed from six individuals to 194. This recovery stems from long-term breeding and conservation programs that started with hogs collected from Manas National Park.
Sarma celebrated the achievement on X. He labeled the turnaround "a remarkable story of conservation, patience and decades of dedicated effort." The state now aims to reach a population of 300 hogs by 2040.
Hogs are back. The species remains among the smallest and rarest wild pigs on Earth. Native to Himalayan foothill grasslands, these animals nearly faced total extinction. Assam serves as the primary hub for current protection efforts.
Success depends on land. Experts note that saving the pygmy hog requires protecting Assam's grasslands, a move that also shields other threatened local species.
Updated at 12th September 2026 at 9:51pm
Sarma branded the milestone with a new slogan: "Small hog. Big comeback."
Conservationists emphasize that the survival of the species requires more than just breeding. They now link the long term outlook to the restoration of the specific grassland ecosystems the pigs call home.
Updated at 13th September 2026 at 1:47pm
Beyond the conservation front, Sarma also celebrated the inclusion of the Guwahati Declaration in the 18th BRICS Summit's New Delhi Declaration. The move officially backs the framework established by BRICS anti drug agencies during their July meeting in Assam. Sarma said the recognition provides a weapon against narcotics, noting the state sits on a high stakes drug trafficking route.
The Chief Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with holding the bloc together despite international skepticism. He claimed the summit outcome silenced critics who predicted the meeting would yield nothing but empty talk. Sarma stated the consensus reached on issues ranging from technology to counter terrorism shows the strength of Indian leadership on the world stage.
Comments