HOGGING THE CONSERVATION LIMELIGHT

Less than a century ago, the Visayan warty pig ranged over the dense forests of six of the Visayan islands. These days, habitat loss and hunting have restricted its movements to just three islands: Panay, Negros, and to a lesser extent, Masbate. In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature placed the pig on its Red List of Threatened Species; even with exact numbers of individuals living in the wild unavailable, the loss of 95 percent of their former range was enough to sound the alarm on its status. Also, they have been exposed to diseases through domestic pigs and by breeding hybrids with these domestic species.

Some foreign organizations have stepped in to help with conservation efforts. The Rotterdam Zoo has taken to breeding the Negros warty pig, while Panay warty pigs are being bred at the San Diego Zoo. There are also other efforts from the Crocolandia Foundation, and the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation, Inc.

The most recent news of a pig born in captivity comes from 2016, when a Visayan warty piglet was born at Newquay Zoo in Cornwall in February 2016 -- it’s the largest zoo in Cornwall and also houses the Philippine spotted deer.

Other, older efforts come from the Visayan Warty Pig Conservation Program, established in 1991. The program has the long-term aim of reintroducing the pigs into their former habitat, though it stands to reason these areas may need reforesting and restoration.

Local captive breeding and rescue centers can also be found in Negros in Siliman University, in addition to the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation. The Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI) has included the warty pig in its programs. In 2015, Negros artists created some pillows in the shape of the warty pig to raise funds and awareness, according to a 2015 Facebook post by the PBCFI. Meanwhile, Panay’s College of Agriculture and Forestry has established another center.