IUCN SSC Wild Specialist Group

2019 Report

Johanna Rode-Margono

Co-Chairs Mission statement Targets for the 2017-2020 quadrennium

Johanna Rode-Margono (1) The SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group (WPSG) Assess has not yet defined a mission statement. Key Red List: complete Red List assessment of all Red List Authority Coordinator components of such a statement would be: pig species. (2) (1) viable wild pig populations, (2) all wild pig Kristin Leus Research activities: (1) status update of the taxa, (3) threat management, (4) conservation Hairy (Babyrousa babyrussa); (2) Javan breeding, (5) reintroduction, (6) habitat resto- Location/Affiliation Warty Pig (Sus verrucosus) status surveys; (3) ration and management, and (7) resolution of (1) Stiftung Artenschutz (Species Conservation genetics of and Bawean Warty conflicts with people. Most wild pig species are Foundation), Berlin, Germany Pig (Sus verrucosus blouchi); (4) taxonomic in decline, especially the various species and (2) Scientific Department, Copenhagen Zoo, research on (Hylochoerus in Indonesia and the Philippines. The Denmark meinertzhageni) and ; (5) Giant Forest WPSG uses a combination of strategies to try to Hog status in Uganda; (6) research reduce these population declines. This primarily Number of members in ; (7) ( includes (1) research on and distri- 31 porcus) ecological research in Sierra Leona; (8) bution (the cornerstone of any conservation Sulawesi ungulate project (phylogenetic/taxo- management), and (2) management of captive Social networks nomic research); (9) Philippines programme and wild populations to prevent the Facebook: IUCN / SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group 4: complete Mindoro Warty Pig (Sus oliveri) of the most threatened species. Website: surveys (one intense ecology study, three distri- https://sites.google.com/site/wildpigspecialist- bution surveys); (10) comprehensive surveys for Projected impact for the 2017-2020 group/home all species of pigs in the Philippines and Indo- quadrennium nesia; (11) phylogeny of Philippine wild pigs; (12) We aim to safeguard the small populations of first worldwide scale book on wild pigs. the two Critically Endangered suid species, Plan (Porcula salvania) and Visayan Planning: (1) Conservation Needs Assessment Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons) and continue the and Planning Strategy with the Conservation captive breeding and release programmes. The Planning Specialist Group (CPSG); (2) collabo- target for Pygmy Hogs is to ensure a popula- rative captive breeding of Javan Warty Pigs; (3) tion in the wild of at least 250 individuals. For hold a Pygmy Hog Species Action Plan work- , we still need to confirm that shop in Guwahati, , November 2018; (4) the species survives in the wild, as no such complete the update of the Pygmy Hog Species information has been forthcoming. For all other Action Plan (in progression of the Pygmy Hog species, we are still in the stage of assessing Conservation Programme). population status and trends, and we do not Policy: submit a recommendation to the UK have conservation programmes that can real- Department for Environment, Food and Rural istically aim to stabilise populations in the wild. Affairs (DEFRA) for the status of Wild Boar in For Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), we aim to revise the the UK. taxonomy of the current 18 subspecies. Act Conservation actions: (1) Babirusa Global Species Management Plan; (2) release programme for Javan Warty Pig; (3) European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and Suiform Regional Collection Plan; (4) Visayan Warty Pig captive breeding program 1: stud- book with data of all breeding centres ready and regularly updated; (5) Visayan Warty Pig captive breeding program 2: annual transfer plan with breeding recommendations (regional and international) for Visayan Warty Pigs completed; (6) wild populations of Visayan Warty Pigs: rein- troduction on Negros island; (7) collaborative captive breeding of Javan Warty Pigs. Network Agreements: sign a new memorandum of understanding (International Conservation, Management and Research MoU) between the partners (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust; WPSG; Forest Department Government of Assam; Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of ; and local partners Aara- nyak and EcoSystems-India) for five years for Poster presentation about the Desert and in the horn of continuation of the Pygmy Hog Conservation Photo: Yvonne A. de Jong, Jean-Pierre d’Huart, Programme. Thomas M. Butynski Membership: update membership and recruit new members for neglected species and other disciplines. Proposal development and funding: develop a fundraising plan, making contact with the pig production industry for fundraising. Synergy: formalise the advisory committee and regional advisors. Communicate Communication: (1) publish Suiform Soundings; (2) update the website, include restricted member area for communication. Scientific meetings: organise an African Pigs Conference. First Expert Meeting on African Wild Pigs Photos: Rafael Reyna

Activities and results 2019

Assess Research activities i. We undertake continuous gathering of ecological, behavioural, and distribution data (long-term, ongoing). The Warthog Database has been in place for some years. (KSR #32) ii. The survey of Hairy Babirusa has been conducted on Buru and published in Suiform Soundings. The Red List update is not yet done. (KSR #12) iii. Javan Warty Pig status surveys were Giant Forest Hog, Hylochoerus meinertzhageni extended into 2020; the results are not yet Photo: Rafael Reyna published. (KSR #12) iv. Studies on the genetics of Javan and Bawean Warty Pigs are ongoing. Preliminary results have been published, but final results depend on more samples (currently being collected). (KSR #32, 42) Plan Planning i. Discussions on the conservation needs assessment and planning strategy with CPSG have been held, including the idea of connecting a meeting to the International Symposium on Wild Boar and Other Suids, but funding is still lacking. (KSR #15) ii. Collaborative captive breeding of Javan Warty Pigs is behind schedule because collab- oration between captive breeding facilities in Indonesia is challenging. A dedicated workshop could possibly help. (KSR #15) iii. The complete updated Pygmy Hog Species Action Plan is ready for printing and printing is secured; the task will be achieved early 2020. (KSR #15) Adult male individual of the Endangered Mother and new born individuals of the Endangered Pygmy Hog, Porcula salvania Pygmy Hog, Porcula salvania Photo: Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme Photo: Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme

Policy Membership Summary of activities 2019 i. A report on UK Wild Boar was submitted to i. The membership was updated using a Components of Species Conservation Cycle: 5/5 the Department for Environment, Food and member survey, with neglected species and Assess 4 |||| Rural Affairs, but the decision was that exces- disciplines identified. We are actively searching Plan 4 |||| sive Wild Boar numbers in the Forest of Dean for new members. Act 2 || need to be brought under control before any Communicate serious consideration can be given to transloca- Network 2 || Communication tions or a new modus operandi for this species Communicate 2 || i. Two issues of Suiform Soundings were in the UK. The Forestry Commission ranger published. (KSR #28) Main KSRs addressed: 2, 15, 25, 27, 28, 29, 32, 42 team increased to eight rangers in the Forest of KSR: Key Species Result Dean, so any work beyond this region on boar Scientific meetings wouldn’t be implemented until after the popula- i. African pigs conference: Thirty people tion here is at a manageable level. (KSR #27) brought together knowledge from eight coun- Act tries, and that knowledge was compiled during a two-day workshop in Uganda. The five African Conservation actions species of wild pigs were discussed, and the i. A workshop on the Visayan Warty Pig was assessment updated. An interest group for held in June 2019 and captive breeding was African pig species was built, headed by Rafael discussed. We made overviews of all pigs in Reyna as the Africa coordinator. The ‘Kibale Call captivity globally. The report of this meeting in Favour of Wild Pig Conservation’ was written. is not yet finished, and actions have not yet A report is available. (KSR #28) started. (KSR #25) ii. The project on reintroduction of Visayan Acknowledgements Warty Pigs into wild populations on Negros is progressing according to plan, there is just a Thank you to all the WPSG members who slight delay due to clarification of ownership. actively contribute to the work of the WPSG, (KSR #25) especially to the Regional Advisors, Red List Authority and Suiform Soundings Chief Editor Network and Social Media Officer. We would also like Agreements to thank the Species Conservation Founda- i. Progress towards signature of the Interna- tion and Association of Zoological Gardens tional Conservation, Management and Research for providing the new Chair with the time and MoU has been made: the MoU is in New Delhi space to work on WPSG activities. A thank you with the Ministry of Environment and Forest, also to Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust for Government of India. Progress is being tracked. providing the funds for the species action plan (KSR #29) for Pygmy Hog.