A CONSERVATIONIST who has worked for Durrell for nearly 30 years to save the pygmy hog from extinction has been honoured by the Government of Assam in India.
Dr Parag Jyoti Deka, director of the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme, has received the Friends of the Environment Award for his contribution to species recovery and the protection of Assam’s threatened grasslands.
The award recognises Dr Deka’s work in conservation breeding, veterinary care, habitat restoration, reintroduction and scientific monitoring.
Dr Parag Deka said: “Receiving this award is an honour, and recognition of the conservation journey that has built around Durrell’s mission, to save species from extinction.
“Saving the pygmy hog has meant more than increasing their number – it’s about understanding what this little hog needs to survive, and to rebuild the ecological conditions so it can thrive.”
The programme, established in 1995 by Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust alongside the Government of Assam, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and local partners, has released 194 captive-bred pygmy hogs into the wild.
More than 150 wild-born animals have also been recorded at Orang National Park, where reintroduced hogs are breeding and spreading into new areas.
Dr Deka, who joined the Durrell programme as a vetinary intern in 1997, added: “The award is therefore not a personal honour, it is a recognition of everyone involved, the Durrell team, our partners in implementation, conservationists, researchers, local communities and the government of Assam whose commitment make all this work possible.
“The story of the pygmy hog is a reminder that with patience, collaboration and a dedication to restore nature, even the smallest of species can be given another chance.”
The pygmy hog is the world’s smallest pig and the only living species in its genus. Once believed to be extinct, it was rediscovered in Assam in 1971. Its survival depends on tall grasslands, which have been lost or damaged by burning, overgrazing and changes in land use.
The project manages two specialist breeding centres in Assam and works with park authorities and local communities to restore habitat in Manas and Orang.
Across restored plots, grassland cover has increased from 34% to 85% following the removal of invasive plants and work to control the spread of trees. Rhinos, hog deer, Asian black bears and the critically endangered Bengal florican have also been recorded returning to these areas.
