CCMB study finds no inbreeding in pygmy hogs

Hyderabad: Researchers from Hyderabad-based CCMB-LaCONES (Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species) in a genetic study of pygmy hogs, which are rare, endangered and are world’s smallest hogs, have found no overall signs of genetic inbreeding between the hogs across different generations. The research group headed by Dr G Umapathy at CCMB-LaCONES studied genetic changes in […]

Hyderabad: Researchers from Hyderabad-based CCMB-LaCONES (Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species) in a genetic study of pygmy hogs, which are rare, endangered and are world’s smallest hogs, have found no overall signs of genetic inbreeding between the hogs across different generations.

The research group headed by Dr G Umapathy at CCMB-LaCONES studied genetic changes in 36 captive-bred pygmy hogs over time across eight consecutive generations. They also tested the association between genetic diversity and reproductive success to account for any fitness loss.

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The study found no overall signs of genetic inbreeding between them across different generations. “This is possible due to strict scientific conservation breeding protocol by the programme. They had carefully selected mating pairs that share the lowest kinship between them. But the recent generations show slightly increased relatedness. So, we recommend introduction of a few wild individuals to the breeding pool”, said Dr Umapathy.

“We carefully selected unrelated mates and bred them in separate family lines. We are glad that this study has provided evidence that it is possible to avoid genetic inbreeding in a small captive population even if the founder population is very small if strict protocol is followed year after year”, mentioned Dr Goutam Narayan of PHCP and EcoSystems-India.

Dr Vinay K Nandicoori, Director, CCMB said that this was for the first such study on Indian animals to understand genetics effect of long-term captive breeding of endangered animals. The outcomes of the study will guide the management and optimisation of breeding protocol in PHCP and other similar conservation breeding programs”, CCMB Director said.

Pygmy hogs are one of the rare and endangered animals listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Indian Wildlife Protection Act. The present population, including reintroduced animals, is estimated to be less than 300 in wild. The original population, which became restricted to a single locality, the Manas National Park in Assam, India, may number lesser than 50.

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